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THE 


NEW    BIBLICAL    ATLAS, 


AND 


tnpta  §Kitttm; 


WITH 


DESCRIPTIVE   NOTICES   OP 

THE    TABERNACLE    AND    THE    TEMPLE. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
AMERICAN    SUNDAY    SCHOOL    UNION 

146,  CHESTNUT  STEEET. 


J 
V 

In 
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<. 


INTRODUCTION. 


CoNSiDEEABLE  attention  has  been  given  during  the  last  twenty  years  to  Biblical 
Geography  :  its  study  has  been  promoted  by  the  recent  laborious  investigations 
of  learned  men,  and  by  a  more  careful  preparation  of  maps.  In  the  year  1840, 
the  Eeligious  Tract  Society  issued  a  Scripture  Atlas,  which  was  found  very  useful, 
and  which  has  had  an  extended  circulation.  Since  that  time  a  considerable 
advance  has  been  made  in  this  department  of  knowledge.  Very  few  localities  in 
Palestine,  for  instance,  had,  up  to  that  period,  been  satisfactorily  ascertained,  either 
by  astronomical  observation  or  geographical  survey.  The  accounts  of  nearly  all 
early  travellers  had  been  loose  and  indefinite,  and  often  legendary  and  fabulous 
More  recent  writers,  however,  have  felt  the  importance  of  greater  care  and  accuracy, 
and  hence  materials  have  been  furnished  for  the  preparation  of  maps  far  superior 
to  those  hitherto  published. 

For  the  arrangement  of  the  present  Atlas,  the  principal  guide  has  been  the 
"Bibel  Atlas  nach  den  neuesten  und  besten  Hiilfsquellen,"  the  production  of 
Heinrich  Keipert,  of  Berlin,  a  learned  artist,  who  executed  the  valuable  maps,  and 
wrote  the  accompanying  memoir,  for  Dr.  Robinson's  "Biblical  Researches."  But 
whilst  his  publication  has  formed  the  basis,  the  labours  of  Berghaus,  Ritter, 
Schubert,  Guers,  and  others,  have  afforded  valuable  assistance.  The  Physical  Map, 
constructed  by  Petermann  expressly  for  this  work,  will  commend  itself  to  the 
attention  of  the  studious  reader.  The  descriptive  matter  has  been  carefully  com- 
piled from  the  works  of  Burckhardt,  Buckingham,  Robinson,  Wilson,  Olin,  Barth, 
Kitto,  Coleman,  Lynch,  Bartlett,  and  other  modem  writers. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  improved  work  may  assist  many  to  read  the  Bible  with 
more  interest  and  profit;  and  that,  so  reading,  they  may,  through  the  blessing  of 
the  Divine  Spirit,  experience  the  power  of  that  holy  book  in  enlightening  the  eyes, 
converting  the  soul,  and  rejoicing  the  heart.  C. 


*9> 


5006385 


CONTENTS. 


MAP,  No  I. 

The  Ancient  World,  sho\^Tng  the  probable 
Settlements  of  tlie  Descendants  of  Noah 

Japheth •         • 

Ham  .•...• 
Shem       .         .         .         .         • 
Kingdom  of  Nimrod    . 


MAP,  No.  n. 

Countries  mentioned  in  the  Bible 
Mesopotamia  .... 
Arabia        .... 
I.  Arabia  Deserta     . 
n.  Ai-abia  Petrea 
III.  Arabia  Felix 

1.  The  Edomites  . 

2.  The  Moabites 

3.  The  Amalekites 

4.  The  Midiaiiites 

5.  The  Ammonites  , 

6.  Ishmaelites    . 

7.  Kenites     . 
Phoenicia 

Egypt  .... 

Assyria  .... 
Aram,  or  Syria  . 
Ararat,  or  Armenia  Major 
Chaldaea,  or  Babylonia 
Media      .... 
Parthia       .... 
Persia     .... 
Africa         .... 

Cush,  or  Ethiopia 
Libya      .         .         .         • 
The  Ludim . 


MAP,  No.  in. 

JotTBNEYINGS  OF  THE  ISRAELITES 

Tabular  View  of  the  Stations  . 


MAP,  No.  rV. 
Canaan,   as    divided    among    the   Twelve 
Tribes,  from  the  Time  of  Joshua  to  the 
Accession  of  David      .         .         •         .30 

Levi 31 

Reuben 32 

Gad 32 

Manasseh 32 

Judah 32 

Ephraim     .         .  _ 33 

Benjamin         ,...*.  33 

Zebulon ,         .  33 


Issachar 
Asher 
Naphtah 
Dau    . 
Simeon    . 


MAP,  No.  V. 
The  Kingdom  of  Israel  in  the  Time   of 
David  and  Solomon        .... 


33 
34 
34 
34 
34 


35 


and 


MAP,  No.  VI. 

I 

Palestine,  under  the  Maccabaean  and  Idu- 
mecan  Princes,  and  illustrative  of  the 
Period  of  Christ  and  his  Apostles 

Judea  ....... 

Samaria  ....... 

Galilee        ....... 

Parasa      ....... 

Idumaea      ....... 

Modern  Palestine    ..... 

MAP,  No.  VII. 
The  Journeys  op  the  Apostle  Paul  ; 
the  Seven  Churches  of  Asia     . 
St.  Paul's  First  Missionary  Journey 
,,  Second  Missionary  Journey 

,,         Third  Missionary  Journey 
,,         Voyage  to  Rome 
,,         Fourth  and  last  Journey 
The  Seven  Churches  of  Asia 

MAP,  No.  Vin. 

Jerusalem  and  its  Environs 
I.  Ancient  Jerusalem     . 
WaUs       . 
Gates  and  Towers 
Streets  aad  Palaces 
Reservoirs  and  Pools 
Modern  Jerusalem 

Publ'c  Edifices    . 
Environs 


II. 


III. 


37 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 


43 
43 
44 
44 
45 
46 
46 

48 
48 
50 
51 
52 
52 
53 
55 
56 


MAP,  No.  IX. 


Physical  Map  of  Palestine  and  the  adja- 
cent Countries 


and 


Region  of 


adjacent  to 


I.  The   Great   Valley 
Depression 
The  Waters  of  Merom 
The  Lake  of  Tiberias 
^  The  River  Jordan 

The  Dead  Sea   . 
The  Wady  el-Arabah 
n.  The  Region  of  the  Plain 

the  Shore 
III.  The  Tablelands 

rV.  The  Lebanon,  also  the  Sinaitic  Group 
V.  Geological  andMineralogicalFeatures   65 

MAPS,  Nos.  X.  and  XI. 
The   Tabernacle  :    its    Altars,    Utensils, 

and  Priests 

The  Tabernacle  :  its  Courts 

Altars,  etc.      ...... 

Mode  of  Encampment  .... 

Garments  of  the  Priests  .... 


57 

58 
58 
58 
58 
60 
61 

61 

62 
64 


MAP,  No. 
Plan  of  the  Temple     . 
Solomon's  Temple 
Herod's  Temple       .         . 


XIL 


Scripture  Gazetteer 


67 
67 
68 
70 
71 

72 
72 
75 


79 


EXPLANATION. 
The  classical  and  other  names  which  do  not  appear  in  the  Bible  aie  engraved  in  a  thinner  letter. 
The  mark  ?  denotes  that  the  site  is  doiibtfiil. 


THE 


NEW    BIBLICAL    ATLAS. 


No.  I. 


€lie  Intient  Wmlt 


SHO^VING  THE  PROBABLE  SETTLEMENTS  OF  THE  DESCENDANTS  OF  NOAH. 

The  tenth  chapter  of  Genesis  contains  a  brief  account  of  the  descendants  of  ^Toah, 
To  the  inattentive  reader  it  may  seem  an  uninteresting  catalogue  of  names,  but  to 
the  student  it  is  of  the  highest  value  as  a  clue  to  the  perplexed  history  of  the  nations 
of  the  earth.  It  should  be  remembered  that  this  chapter  is  an  inspired  document, 
which,  taken  in  connexion  with  other  portions  of  Scripture  referring  to  it,  will  yield 
much  important  instruction. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  the  ancient  fathers,  that  the  distribution  of  mankind  was  not 
left  to  be  settled  at  random,  or  according  to  the  exigencies  of  the  moment ;  but  that 
a  distribution  of  the  world,  as  known  to  the  patriarch  Noah,  was  made  by  him  among 
his  three  sons,  before  any  actual  migrations  from  the  first  settlement,  in  Armenia, 
took  place.  Probability  is  in  favour  of  this  hypothesis  ;  and  Dr.  Hales,  who  adopts 
it,  quotes  the  striking  passages,  Deut.  xxxii.  7 — 9,  and  Acts  xvii.  26,  as  tending  strongly 
to  support  it.  He  also  adduces  in  its  favour  an  Armenian  tradition,  quoted  by 
AbuKaragi,  which  states,  that  Noah  distributed  the  habitable  part  of  tlie  globe,  from 
north  to  south,  between  his  sons,  giving  to  Ham  the  region  of  the  blacks,  to  Shem 
the  region  of  the  tawny,  and  to  Japheth  the  region  of  the  ruddy. 

"  We  are  not  warranted,"  says  Dr.  J.  Pye  Smith,*  "  to  suppose  that  the  families, 
or  clans,  or  tribes,  or  however  the  groups  might  be  formed,  migrated  immediately  to 
their  respective  seats,  by  any  sort  of  general  breaking  up.  This  would  presuppose 
some  kind  of  compulsory  enforcement,  which  neither  the  nature  of  the  case,  nor 
any  intimation  in  the  narrative,  warrants  us  to  assume.  We  may  rather  conceive 
that  a  diversity  of  movements  took  place,  excited  by  general  conviction  of  duty  and 
utility,  guided  in  a  great  measure  by  patriarchal  directions,  and  strengthened  by 
circumstances  which  would  inevitably  occur ;  such,  on  the  one  hand,  as  earthquakes, 
volcanic  eruptions,  local  inundations,  land-slips,  pi'oof  of  unwholesomeness  in  marshy 
districts,  the  annoyance  of  winged  insects  or  other  noxious  animals — urging  to  depart 
from  disagreeable  or  dangerous  places ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  attractive  peculi- 
arities, new  and  more  convenient  situations  for  pasturage,  better  soils  for  the  various 
*  Li  the  article.  Nations,  Dispersion  of,  Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopaedia,  ii.  396. 

B 


2  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

kinds  of  agriculture,  more  pleasing  sites  for  dwellings,  the  formation  of  towns,  and 
the  security  of  their  inhabitants.  It  is,  also,  too  probable  that  there  were  turbulent 
men,  or  those  who  had  perpetrated  crimes  or  occasioned  offences,  who,  with  their 
fiimilics  and  adherents,  would  quit  hastily,  and  travel  as  rapidly  and  as  far  as  they 
could." 

The  descendants  of  Japheth  are  enumerated  first  in  the  sacred  narrative ;  and 
very  briefly,  as  the  more  remote  nations  and  the  least  concerned  in  biblical  history 
The  primitive  families  of  Ham  follow ;  and  the  generations  of  Shem,  as  the  most 
important,  are  mentioned  last.  The  Canaanites,  who  lived  nearest,  are  described 
with  the  greatest  particularity, — so  that  even,  in  one  instance,  the  boundaries  are 
stated.  Moses  describes  the  individual  tribes  of  the  descendants  of  Gomer,  Javan, 
Cush,  Mizraim,  and  Ai-am,  who  lived  near  him,  and  even  the  minor  divisions  of  the 
family  of  Joktan. 

I.  Japheth,  it  appears  from  Gen.  x.  21,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Noah.  His  name 
denotes  "  enlargement,"  and  his  boundaries  have  indeed  been  wonderfully  extended. 
Not  only  Europe,  but  Asia  Minor,  the  whole  of  the  vast  regions  of  Asia  north  of 
Taurus,  and  probably  America,  were  peopled  by  his  posterity.  The  genealogical  table 
of  his  race  may  thus  be  represented  : — 

Japheth. 
I ^ 

f 1 ^1  i \  \  ^ 

Gomer.  Magog.  Madai.  Javan,  Tubal.  Meshecu.  Tiras. 


(  I  \  (  j  i  71 

Ashkenaz.       Riphath.       Togannah.  Elishah.         Tarshish.  Kittim.         Dodanim. 

1.  The  descendants  of  Gomer,  the  eldest  son,  spread  themselves  westward  over 
nearly  the  whole  continent  of  Europe,  retaining,  with  some  slight  variation,  their 
paternal  name  of  Gomerians  ;  as  Cimmerians  in  Asia ;  Cimfcri  in  Gaul  and  Italy ; 
and  Cymri,  Cambri,  and  Cumbri,  in  Wales  and  Cumberland.  Ancient  authors 
identify  them  also  with  the  Galatse  of  Asia  Minor,  who,  according  to  Josephus,  were 
called  Gomeriani,  from  their  ancestor  Gomer ;  from  whom  came  the  Gaels,  Gauls, 
and  CeltaB  of  Europe,  occupying  the  countries  from  the  Euxine  or  Black  Sea,  to 
the  Western  Ocean.  The  descendants  of  Gomer  are  mentioned  among  the  northern 
nations,  which  should  accompany  Gog  in  his  conquests  in  the  latter  days,  Ezek. 
xxxviii.  6. 

Ashkenaz,  the  eldest  son  of  Gomer,  appears  to  have  settled  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Euxine  Sea,  which  from  him  received  its  primaiy  denomination,  Axenus,  resembling 
Ashkenaz.  His  precise  settlement  is  represented  in  Scripture  as  contiguous  to 
Armenia,  westward,  answering  to  Bithynia ;  for  the  kingdoms  of  Ararat,  Minni,  and 
Ashkenaz  are  mentioned  together,  Jer.  li.  27.  The  Armenian  language  is  still  called 
the  Ashkenazian.  The  rabbinical  Jews  understand  by  Ashkenaz  the  whole  of  Ger- 
many ;  but  Keipert  says  such  a  view  is  unsupported  by  testimony.  Eiphath,  the 
second  son,  peopled  the  country  east  of  the  Euxine,  Paphlagonia,  Croatia,  and  the 
Alpine  regions.  Togarmah,  or  Togarmuth,  the  third  son,  inhabited  the  confines  of 
Armenia  and  the  Caucasian  regions.  Togarmah  is  mentioned  witli  Gomer,  Ezek. 
xxxviii.  6  ;  and  with  Meshech  and  Tubal,  Ezek.  xxvii.  13,  14. 

2.  Magog,  Tubal,  and  Meshech,  sons  of  Japheth,  are  noticed  by  Ezekiel,  (xxxviii. 
2,  14,  15,)  as  settled  in  the  north;  that  is,  the  space  between  the  Black  and  the 
Caspian  Seas,  and  the  borders  of  Scythia.     Tlie  first  of  these  may  be  traced  in  the 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


Mongogians,  Mongols,  and  Moguls ;  the  second  in  the  Toboloski  of  Siberia ;  and 
the  third  in  the  Moschici,  Moscow,  and  Muscovites.  Reference  is  made  to  their 
descendants  in  Ezek.  xxvii.  13  ;  xxxii,  26  ;  xxxix.  1.  The  prophet  speaks  of  Magog 
as  a  country  and  Gog  as  its  ruler. 

3.  Madai  was  the  father  of  the  Medes,  who  are  thus  denominated  in  Scripture : 
see  3  Kings  xvii.  6;  Isa.  xiii.  17;  Jei\  li.  11  ;  Dan  v,  28;  and  probably  also  of  the 
primitive  inhabitants  of  Hindustan. 

4.  Javan,  the  fourth  son  of  Japheth,  was  the  father  of  the  Javanians,  or  Jaones 
of  the  Greeks.  He  had  four  sons,  by  whom  the  different  portions  of  Greece  Proper 
were  peopled.  Kittim  is  now  generally  considered  to  have  settled  in  C^^prus ;  and  if 
we  proceed  on  the  principle  that  we  are  to  look  first  of  all  for  the  countries  nearest 
to  the  Hebrews,  distinguished  also  for  their  civilization  and  commerce,  hardly  any 
objection  can  be  made  to  the  adoption  of  the  reading  Rhodanim  for  Dodanim,  and 
applying  it  to  the  island  of  Rhodes ;  or  against  explaining  Tarshish  to  mean  Tarsus 
in  Cilicia,  where  a  very  ancient  Greek  colony  (descended  from  Javan)  existed  ;  whereas 
Tartessus  in  Spain,  which  has  been  commonly  taken  for  it,  was  neither  inhabited  by 
the  Greeks,  nor  known  to  the  Hebrews  at  the  time  that  Moses  wrote.  Tarshish,  in 
the  later  books  of  the  Bible,  may  possibly  refer  to  the  Spanish  Tartessus. 

II.  Ham  and  his  descendants  are  next  mentioned,  Gen.  x.  6 — 20.  Ham  signifies 
"teat,"  or  "burnt,"  and  is  peculiarly  significant  of  the  regions  allotted  to  his  race — 
Africa  and  the  hot  southern  parts  of  Asia.  The  name  of  this  patriarch  is  preserved 
in  the  title  given  to  Egypt,  "  the  land  of  Ham,"  Psa.  cv.  23.  His  genealogy  may  be 
thus  given  : — 

Ham. 


Ciish. 

. I 

f  \  ^ 

Seba.     Havilah.     Sabtah. 

Raamah.     Sabtechali. 


I. 
Mizraim. 

I 

I 


Phut. 


1 

Canaan 


1 


r 


n 


Ludim.     Anamim.     Lebabim. 
Naphtuhim.     Patbrusim.     Caslubim. 
Capbtorim.  | 

Pbilistim. 


r 


1. 


Sbeba.     Dedan. 


Sidon,  Hetb,  tbe  Jebusite, 

tbe  Amoiite,  the  Girgashite, 

tbe  Hhite,  tbe  Arkite, 

tbe  Sinite,  the  Arvadite, 

tbe  Zemarite,  tbe  Hamathite. 


1.  CusH  appears  to  have  been  the  most  celebrated  of  the  sons  of  Ham ;  he  gave 
his  name  to  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Red  Sea.  The  portion  in  Asia,  on  the  Gulf 
of  Persia,  still  bears  the  name  of  Chusistan,  from  whence  his  descendants  spread  over 
Arabia  and  part  of  India,  invaded  Egypt  under  the  name  of  "  shepherd  kings,"  and 
thence  passed  into  Central  Africa. 

Seha,  Havilah,  Sabtah,  Sahtechah,  and  Raamah,  the  sons  of  Cush,  and  his  two 
grandchildren,  Sheba  and  Dedan,  seem  to  have  settled  in  Idumea  and  a  portion  of 
Arabia.  Raamah  founded  a  city  in  Arabia,  which  became  noted  for  its  commerce, 
Ezek.  xxvii.  22.  Sheba,  whose  queen  came  to  learn  of  the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  was  on 
the  Arabian  coast  of  the  Red  Sea.  To  the  Jews  in  Palestine  it  was  "the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth,"  Matt.  xii.  42.  Dedan  was  a  place  of  merchandise, — probably  the  modern 
Aden, — a  port  which  is  again  rapidly  rising  into  importance. 

2.  Mtsb,  or  Mizraim,  the  second  son  of  Ham,  settled  in  Egypt,  whence  the  Egyptians 
are  styled  in  Scripture,  Mizraim,  (literally,  "  the  two  Egypts,")  or  Mizraites,  in  the  plural 
form.     This  country  is  called  in  the  East,  at  the  present  day,  "  the  land  of  Misr." 

Of  the  sons  of  Misr,  Ludi^n  and  Lehabim  were  probably  the  Copto-Libyans      The 


4  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

fomier  are  joined  by  Isaiah  (Ixvi.  19)  with  Pul,  whose  settlement  is  supposed  to  have  been 
about  the  island  Philaj,  near  the  first  cataract  of  the  Nile;  by  Jeremiah  (xlvi.  19)  with 
the  Ethiopians  and  Lydians ;  and  by  Ezekiel  (xxvii.  10)  with  Phut,  as  the  mercenary 
soldiers  of  Tyre  ; — all  plainly  denoting  their  African  position.  The  Naphtuhim  occupied 
the  sea  coast,  called  by  the  Egyptians,  Nephtus.  The  descendants  oi  Pathrusim  occupied 
a  lower  part  of  Eg}-pt,  which  in  consequence  bore  the  name  of  Pathros,  Isa.  xi.  11;  and 
those  of  Casluhim  and  Cajyhtorim,  the  district  which  lies  between  the  delta  of  the  Nile 
and  the  southern  extremity  of  Palestine.  The  descendants  of  these  latter  people  were 
the  Philistines.  Caphtor  is  mentioned  by  Jeremiah  (xlvii.  4)  as  an  island,  and  is 
supposed,  from  its  geographical  position,  to  be  the  island  of  Crete,  which  was  known 
to  the  Egyptians  at  a  very  early  period,  and  may  have  been  first  colonized  by  the 
Caphtorim. 

3.  Phut,  or  "  the  bow,"  and  his  posterity,  are  supposed  to  have  peopled  that  part  of 
Africa  called  Mauritania,  which  answers  nearly  to  the  modern  Barbary  and  Morocco. 
Pliny  mentions  a  city  in  this  region  called  Putea,  and  Ptolemy,  a  river  bearing  the  actual 
name  of  Phut.  This  is  also  mentioned  by  Jerome,  who  says  that  the  adjacent  country 
was  called  Pvegio  Phutensis,  or  "  the  land  of  Phut."  This  region  contained  Cyrene,  a  cele- 
brated place  of  Jewish  learning,  whose  ruins  bear  testimony  to  its  former  splendour. 

4.  Canaax,  the  youngest  son  of  Ham,  gave  his  name  to  that  land  which  was  after- 
wards promised  to  the  children  of  Abraham  for  an  inheritance.  Sidon,  the  first-bom  of 
Canaan,  occupied  the  north-west  comer,  and  built  the  town  of  that  name,  so  early 
celebrated  both  in  sacred  and  profane  history  for  its  luxury  and  commerce  :  see  Judges 
xviii.  7 ;  Isa.  xxiii.  2.  Heth,  the  second  son,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Hittites,  who 
settled  in  the  south,  near  Hebron,  Gen.  xxiii.  3 — 7  ;  and  Jehus  and  his  posterity,  the 
Jebusites  at  Jerusalem,  where  they  remained  till  the  days  of  David,  2  Sam.  v.  6 — 9. 
Beyond  these  latter,  the  Emorites,  or  Amorites,  settled,  Numb.  xiii.  29,  extending 
themselves  beyond  Jordan,  until  they  were  destroyed  by  Moses  and  Joshua,  according 
to  the  Divine  command,  for  their  iniquities. 

III.  The  posterity  of  Shem  possessed  the  finest  regions  of  Upper  and  Middle  Asia. 
Shem  signifies  "  renown,"  which  distinctive  title  was  realized  by  this  great  branch  of 
the  human  family,  both  in  a  temporal  and  spiritual  sense  ;  especially  as  from  among  his 
posterity  was  raised  up  the  Messiah,  in  whom  "  all  the  families  of  the  earth  shall  be 
blessed." 

Shem. 

j 1 ^ \ 

Elaai.  Asshur.  Arphaxad,  Lud.  Aram. 


Salah.  (        j  j  \ 

I  Uz.     Hul.     Gether.     Mash. 

Eber. 


t  ) 

Peleg.  Joktan. 

Reu.  Almodad,  &c. 

I 
Serug. 

Nahor. 

I 
Terah. 

Abram. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.       '  5 

1.  Elam  appears  to  have  settled  in  Elymais,  or  Southei-n  Persia,  contiguous  to  the 
ancient  Susiana,  or  modern  Chusistan.  The  sacred  writers,  under  the  name  of  Elam, 
comprehended  the  country  of  Persia  in  general :  the  inhabitants  were  famous  for  the 
use  of  the  bow,  Jer.  xlix.  34,  35. 

2.  AssHUR  peopled  the  land  known  as  Assyria,  which  became  a  province  of  the 
Cushite  empire  founded  by  Nimrod. 

3.  Arphaxad,  through  his  grandson  Eber,  was  the  original  of  the  houses  of  Peleg 
and  Joktan,  the  progenitors  of  the  two  celebrated  races  of  the  Hebrews  and  the  primitive 
Arabs.  Peleg  probably  remained  in  Chaldea  at  the  time  of  the  dispersion ;  for  his 
descendant  Terah  and  his  family  settled  at  Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  Gen.  xi.  31.  Of  the 
children  of  Joktan  it  is  said,  that  •'  their  dwelling  was  from  Mesha,  as  thou  goest,  unto 
Sephar  a  mount  of  the  east,"  Gen.  x.  30.  Faber  conjectures  that  they  were  the 
ancestors  of  the  great  body  of  the  Hindoos,  who  still  retain  a  lively  tradition  of  the 
patriarch  Shem. 

4.  LuD,  according  to  a  tradition  of  the  Lydians,  quoted  by  Josephus,  was  the  father 
of  the  people  that  dwelt  in  Asia  Minor. 

5.  Akam,  by  his  descendants,  planted  the  fertile  country  north  of  Babylonia,  called 
Aram-Naharaim,  or  "Aram  between  the  two  rivers,"  the  Euphrates  andTigxis,  which  the 
Greeks  from  thence  denominated  Mesopotamia,  Gen.'xxiv.  10;  and Padan-aram,  or  "the 
level  country  of  Aram,"  Gen.  xxv.  20.  This  country  is  frequently  rendered  Syria  in 
Scripture,  which  must  not  be  understood  as  Palestine  Syria.  Uz,  the  eldest  son  of 
Aram,  peopled  the  northern  part  of  Arabia,  the  land  of  Job. 

The  map  includes  all  the  parts  of  the  globe  with  which  the  Hebrews  were  acquainted ; 
and  probably  it  includes  countries  unknown  to  them.  Sinim,  in  Isa.  xlix.  12,  is 
supposed  to  mean  China,  and  Phut,  Mauritania:  they  are  thus  inserted  in  the  maj)  as 
probable,  but  not  as  certain.  The  localities  of  the  Joktanic  tribes  in  Southern  Arabia 
are  generally  admitted  to  be  very  uncertain.  Of  the  Ishmaelitish  tribes  veiy  few  can  be 
determined  ;  hence,  to  avoid  mere  arbitrary  decisions,  most  of  them  are  omitted. 

Kingdom  of  Nimrod. — Eastern  authors  maintain  that  Nimrod  the  Cushite,  and 
"  mighty  hunter,"  was  the  first  man  that  wore  a  crown.  His  name,  says  Dr.  J.  Pye 
Smith,  is  rather  an  appellative,  probably  given  after  his  death,  as  descriptive  of  his 
character  :  it  signifies  "  apostasy,  impiety,  rebellion."  The  land  of  Nimrod  (Mic.  v.  6), 
situate  in  Shinar  (Gen.  x.  10),  may  have  been  of  no  great  extent.  The  principal  towns 
were,  1.  Babel,  "the  city  of  confusion,"  which  was  the  original  of  the  great  city  of 
Babylon  on  the  Euphrates,  and,  in  after  ages,  became  the  capital  of  the  Chaldean  empire, 
and  the  mistress  of  Western  Asia,  Isa.  xiii.  19 — 22  ;  Dan.  iv.  30.  The  tower  of  Babel 
or  Birs  Nimrod,  was  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  and  more  than  three  hundred  miles 
from  its  mouth.  The  early  traditions  respecting  this  ancient  structure,  and  its  ancient 
ruins,  show  that  it  was  a  stupendous  work.  The  mighty  mounds  which  remain  are  an 
enduring  monument,  at  once  of  the  ambitious  impiety  of  this  early  race,  and  of  the 
avenging  justice  of  God.  2.  Erech  is  supposed  to  be  represented  by  the  imposing 
mounds  of  El  Assayah,  or  "the  palace  of  pebbles,"  on  the  Euphrates.  3.  Calneh,  which 
both  ancient  and  modern  authorities  concur  in  fixing  as  the  site  of  the  great  city  of 
Ctesiphon,  upon  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Tigris.  4.  Accad  is  assigned  as  the  Sittace  of 
the  Greeks,  and  the  Akkerkuf  of  tlie  present  time.  It  is  situate  about  nine  miles  west 
of  the  latter  river,  where  the  waters  make  the  nearest  approach  to  the  Euphrates.  Its 
present  name  is  Tel  Nimrud,  "  the  hill  of  Nimrod."  Its  ruins  stand  upon  a  gentle 
elevation,  and  consist  chiefly  of  masses  of  sun-biu'nt  bricks. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


No.  IL 

Cnimtpies  tnmtintieh  in  tjie  ^Ut 

(For  Canaan,  see  Maps,  Nos.  4,  5,  6,  and  9  ;  Asia  Minor,  see  Travels  of  the  Apostle  Paul,  Map  7.) 

In  this  map  are  exhibited  "the  lands  of  the  Gentiles,"  all  of  which  have,  more 
or  less,  an  interesting  connexion  with  "the  land  of  promise."  The  first  that  claims 
attention,  as  the  scene  of  some  of  the  earhest  events  recorded  in  biblical  history,  is: — 

MESOPOTAMIA. 

The  Hebrew  name  of  this  countiy  is  Aram-Naharaim,  which,  as  before  stated, 
answers  to  the  Greek  Mesopotamia,  or  "the  land  between  the  two  rivers,"  Gen.  xxiv.  10. 
The  modern  Arabs  call  it  El  Jesireh,  or  "  the  island,"  it  being  nearly  encompassed 
by  the  two  great  streams,  the  Euphrates  and  the  Tigris.  It  extends  from  the  thirty- 
third  deoi-ee  to  the  thirty-eightli  of  north  latitude.  Armenia,  Asia  Minor,  and  Syria, 
bound  it  on  the  west ;  Babylonia  and  Arabia  Deserta  on  the  south ;  and  Kurdistan 
on  the  north.  Along  its  northern  boundaries  is  a  branch  of  Mount  Taurus,  known 
to  the  Hebrews  by  the  name  Mash,  Gen.  x.  23,  and  called  by  the  Arabs  Judi.  An 
important  stream,  the  Chebar,*  flows  through  the  land,  and  joins  the  Euphrates  near 
Carchemish.  Here  Nebuchadnezzar  planted  a  colony  of  the  Jews,  among  whom  was 
the  prophet  Ezekiel,  2  Kings  xxiv.  15;  Ezek.  i.  1,  3.  The  country  in  general  is 
fertile;  the  mulberry,  olive,  and  vine  flourish  without  cultivation.  The  summer  is 
hot  and  dry,  and  the  winter  is  generally  very  mild.  This  land  once  contained  many 
populous  cities,  as  Carchemish,  Hena,  Sepharvaim,  and  Thelasar,  but  is  now  chiefly 
traversed  by  nomadic  tribes  of  Arabs 

The  Scripture  associations  of  Mesopotamia  are  of  much  interest.  Here  Abram 
lived  in  the  district  of  Ur,  near  the  Euphrates.  Grotius,  Bochart,  and  Wells  placed 
this  spot  on  the  Tigris :  recent  investigation,  however,  has  fully  shown  that  the  present 
Urfah,  on  the  first-named  river,  is  the  true  locality.  It  is  now  called  "  Ur  of  the 
Chaldees,"  by  the  eastern  Jews,  who  make  pilgrimages  to  it  as  the  birthplace  of 
the  patriarch.  There  is  a  pool  of  beautifully  clear  water  within  the  walls  of  this  city, 
known  as  "  the  lake  of  Abraham  the  Beloved."  The  most  remarkable  circumstance 
connected  with  it,  is  the  large  number  of  fish,  a  species  of  barbel,  which  sport 
unmolested  in  its  waters.  From  thence  Abram  removed  to  Haran,  about  twenty 
miles  south  of  Urfah,  until,  called  of  God,  he  left  his  own  country  to  go  to  the 
distant  land  of  Canaan,  the  future  residence  of  his  posterity.  Haran  is  enumerated 
a  thousand  years  after  the  call  of  Abram,  among  the  towns  which  had  been  taken  by 
the  predecessors  of  the  king  of  Assyria.  It  is  also  mentioned  still  later  among  the 
cities  that  traded  with  Tyre,  2  Kings  xix.  12;  Isa.  xxxvii.  12;  Ezek.  xxvii.  23. 
"Rebecca's  weU"  still  marks  the  spot,  and  to  it  the  Ishmaelites,  or  Bedouins,  still 
resort  to  pray,  and  water  their  flocks.  In  the  New  Testament  it  is  called  Charran, 
Acts  vii.  4. 

One  of  the  kings  of  Mesopotamia  subdued  the  Israelites  after  the  death  of  Joshua, 
Judges  iii.  8.     His  dominions  were  probably  in  Lower  Mesopotamia.     In  after  ages 

*  This  river  is  not  to  be  confounded  with,  the  Chabor  or  Habor,  of  Assyria,  where  Shaliaaneaea- 
colonized  the  ten  tribes. 


Edw?  Go 


1 


r^ 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  7 

the  country  was  seized  by  the  Assyrians  :  at  the  dissolution  of  their  empire,  it  was 
di\'ided  between  the  Medes  and  the  Babylonians.  In  the  revolutions  of  kingdoms 
that  followed,  it  was  successively  a  province  of  the  Medo-Persian,  Macedonian,  and 
Parthian  empires.     At  the  present  day  it  is  subject  to  Persia. 

ARABIA. 

Arabia,  though  chiefly  an  arid,  sandy  desert,  is  a  country  of  much  biblical  and  histo- 
rical interest.  It  extends  from  west  to  east,  commencing  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nile  in 
Lower  Egypt,  to  the  Euphrates  and  Persian  Gulf,  a  distance  of  one  thousand  miles  ; 
and  fourteen  hundred  miles  from  the  Arabian  Gulf  to  Syria  in  the  north.  The 
Arabs  make  two  great  divisions  of  their  land  :  the  northei-n,  which  they  call  Sham, 
or  "the  left;"  and  the  southern,  called  Yemen,  or  "the  right."  But  Ptolemy  and 
older  geographers  distinguish  it  as  three  separate  i^egions  :  Arabia  Deserta  on  the 
east,  Arabia  Petrsea  on  the  west,  and  Arabia  Felix  on  the  south. 

The  ancient  Hebrews  denominated  this  region  "  the  east  country,"  Gen.  xxv.  6, 
and  its  inhabitants  "  the  children  of  the  east,"  Judges  vi.  3  ;  Job  i,  3 ;  ]  Kings  iv. 
30  ;  Isa.  xi.  14.  By  Ai'abia  they  only  meant  a  small  district  of  the  country  now 
so  called,  Ezek.  xxvii.  21;  2  Chron.  xxi.  16,  17.  Thus  the  Ai'abians  are  placed  in 
connexion  with  the  Philistines,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  7.  By  "all  the  kings  of  Arabia" 
(1  Kings  X.  15  ;  Jer.  xxv.  24)  we  may  understand  the  chiefs  of  wandering  tribes, 
who  lived  in  tents.  When  the  apostle  Paul  speaks  of  having  visited  Arabia,  Gal. 
i.  17,  the  northern  part,  adjacent  to  the  countiy  of  Damascus,  may  be  intended; 
but  when  he  says  that  Sinai  is  in  Arabia  (iv.  25)  he  uses  the  name  in  its  extended 
signification. 

Arabia  is  supposed  to  be  so  called  from  Arabah,  that  is,  "the  desert,"  a  district 
in  Idumea.  In  Deut.  ii.  8,  we  read  of  "the  way  of  the  plain,"  in  connexion  with 
Elath  and  Ezion-geber;  in  the  original  it  is  Ha-Arabah.  As  its  Ishmaelitish 
inhabitants  wandered  over  the  adjoining  territories,  the  name  became  extended  to 
them  also.  The  Arabah  consists  of  a  great  valley,  "deep,  dreary,  and  desolate," 
beginning  at  Elath  and  Ezion-geber,  and  extending  to  the  Dead  Sea,  which  is  called 
"the  sea  of  the  plain,"  or  Arabah,  in  Deut.  iv.  49;  Josh.  iii.  16.  It  may  be 
regarded  as  a  continuation  of  the  valley  of  the  Jordan.  It  was  the  scene  of  some  of 
the  most  interesting  incidents  in  the  exodus  of  the  Israelites..  Here  they  encamped 
for  thirty-eight  years,  and  here  were  the  graves  of  that  rebellious  generation,  "  whose 
carcases  fell  in  the  wilderness."  Before  the  time  of  Burckliardt,  this  valley  had  not 
been  traversed  by  travellers ;  but  his  journey  through  it,  together  with  subsequent 
investigations  by  others,  has  supplied  much  important  illustration  of  the  Holy 
Scriptm-es.     (See  the  Physical  Map,  No.  IX.) 

The  parts  of  the  country  bordering  on  Palestine  and  Egypt,  were  originally 
peopled  by  Cush,  the  son  of  Ham  ;  hence  Cush  became  a  general  name  for  both 
Arabian  and  African  Ethiopia.  The  pure  Arabians,  however,  trace  their  descent  to 
Joktan,  or  Kahtan,  the  son  of  Heber,  and  of  the  posterity  of  Noah,  by  Shem ;  and 
Kahtan  is  still  the  patronymic  of  the  tribes  which  are  widely  scattered  over  the  whole 
of  Southern  Arabia.  Moses  mentions  thirteen  sons  of  Joktan,  several  of  whose  names 
are  identified  by  Niebuhr  and  other  travellers  with  the  provinces  and  towns  of  this 
part  of  the  country.  A  native  who  can  clearly  trace  his  genealogy  in  this  line,  is 
called  "an  Arab  of  the  Ai-abs,"  to  mark  the  purity  of  his  descent.  A  third  class 
are  the  descendants  of  Ishmael,  whose  "  sons  became  twelve  princes   according  to 


8  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

their  nations,"  in  fulfilment  of  the  Divine  promise  to  Abi-aham,  Gen.  xvii.  20.  Others 
of  the  tribes  sprang  from  the  two  handmaids  of  Abraham,  Hagar  and  Keturah.  The 
whole  of  these  tribes  are  now  divided  into  two  classes :  the  Ai^ab-al-madar,  or 
"  dwellers  in  clay,"  and  the  Bedouins,  or  "  dwellers  in  the  wilderness."  Between  them 
there  is  a  great  diversity  of  character  and  habits.  The  latter  class  live  in  tents  made 
of  camel's-hair  cloth;  their  wealth  is  in  their  flocks,  and  to  a  considerable  degree 
they  still  maintain  the  prophetic  declaration,  "He  will  be  a  wild  man;  his  hand  will 
be  against  every  man,  and  every  man's  hand  against  him,"  Gen.  xvi.  12. 

I.  Akabia  Deserta  is  mostly  an  extensive  desert,  with  scarcely  enough  vegetation 
to  support  the  camels  by  which  it  is  traversed,  and  with  only  a  few  brackish  springs 
and  pools  of  water;  neither  river  nor  perennial  stream  flows  over  its  wide  expanse. 
The  naked  wilderness  is  encircled  or  intersected  by  barren  mountains,  with  summits 
rising  into  rugged  peaks.  The  cooling  breeze  enjoyed  in  other  sultry  climes  is  here 
unknovra.  The  air  is  dry,  and  often  pestilential  to  animal  life.  Whole  years 
occasionally  pass  without  rain.  According  to  the  impressive  description  of  holy 
writ,  it  is  "a  land  of  deserts,  and  of  pits;  a  land  of  drought,  and  of  the  shadow  of 
death;  a  land  that  no  man  passed  through,  and  where  no  man  dwelt,"  Jer.  ii.  6. 
A  large  portion  of  this  country  is,  to  the  present  day,  but  little  known  to  travellers. 
Warlike  tribes  of  Bedouins,  each  under  its  respective  sheikh,  or  chieftain,  roam 
over  its  extensive  deserts. 

II.  Arabia  Petrea,  or  Eocky  Arabia,  derives  its  name  from  Petra,  "a  rock,"  from 
the  numerous  rocky  districts  found  within  its  limits.  "  To  this  wild  but  interesting 
region  belongs  a  reverence  which  no  other  portion  of  the  earth,  Judea  excepted,  can 
claim.  It  was  the  theatre  of  many  awful  and  extraordinary  events  recorded  in 
Jewish  history.  The  sacred  eminence  of  Sinai,  on  whose  cloudy  summit  the  Deity 
made  his  pavilion  of  darkness,  when  he  first  issued  a  system  of  written  laws  to  the 
human  race ;  Horeb,  with  its  bui^ning  bush,  and  its  caves  which  gave  shelter  to 
Elijah,  when  he  fled  from  the  persecution  of  Jezebel ;  the  pastoral  solitudes  where 
the  Jewish  deliverer,  then  an  exile  from  Egypt,  kept  the  flocks  of  Jethro,  the  priest 
of  Midian;  Shur  and  Paran,  with  the  bitter  wells  of  Marah,  and  the  smitten  rock 
that  yielded  water ;  the  land  of  Uz,  the  scene  of  the  wealth  and  the  woes  of  Job,  of 
the  trial  of  his  patience  and  the  triumph  of  his  piety, — are  all  comprehended  within 
the  geography  of  Petrea."* 

No  part  of  this  country  has  been  so  carefully  traversed  as  the  Peninsula  of  Sinai. 
Its  general  aspect  is  wild  and  rugged, — a  collection  of  naked  rocks  and  craggy 
precipices.  Sir  F.  Henniker  describes  it  as  "  a  sea  of  desolation."  "  It  would 
seem,"  says  he,  "  as  if  Arabia  Petrea  had  once  been  an  ocean  of  lava,  and  that,  while 
its  waves  were  literally  running  mountains  high,  it  was  commanded  suddenly  to 
stand  still."  The  scene  of  the  giving  of  the  law  is  still  a  question  among  travellers. 
(See  Map  of  the  Jodrneyings  of  the  Israelites,  No.  III.) 

III.  Arabia  Felix,  or  "the  Happy,"  was  so  called  because  of  its  superior  fertihty. 
It  is  mountainous,  tolerably  well  watered,  and  yields  large  quantities  of  com,  coff"ee, 
and  fruit.  The  present  inhabitants  of  the  land  pride  themselves  on  being  the  only 
pure  and  unmixed  race  of  Arabs ;  they  live  in  cities,  and  successfully  engage  in 
agriculture  and  commerce. 

Among  the  people  who  occupied  these  three  great  divisions  of  Ai-abia,  the  following 
are  the  most  considerable : — 

1.  The  Edomites.      The  country  of  the  children  of  Esau,  "who  is  Edom,"  after  he 

*  Crichton's  Arabia,  i.  45. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  'J 

"  went  from  the  face  of  bis  brother  Jacob,"  was  at  Mount  Seir,  an  elevated  tract, 
stretching  from  the  southern  point  of  the  Dead  Sea  to  the  Gulf  of  Ezion-geber.  Its 
earliest  inhabitants  were  the  Horims,  or  dwellers  in  caves,  Deut.  ii.  12,  22.  It  was 
in  after  ages  called  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  Idumea.  The  Edomites  were  a 
warlike  race,  and  gradually  spread  eastwards  and  southwards  over  an  extensive  country. 
They  established  several  ports  on  the  Red  Sea,  which  were  taken  by  David,  and  the 
kingdom  of  Edom  was  annexed  to  his  house,  until  it  revolted  in  the  days  of  Jehoram, 
2  Chron.  xxi.  8 — 10.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  the  Christian  era, 
the  Edomites  were  again  subdued,  and  were  from  that  time  gradually  incorporated 
among  the  Jewish  people,  and  their  national  name  became  extinct.  The  land,  which 
was  once  covered  with  populous  cities,  and  was  the  emporium  of  the  commerce  of 
the  east,  is  now  one  of  the  most  inaccessible  countries  of  the  world. 

The  chief  city,  Petra,  (the  Joktheel  of  Scripture,)  was  situated  in  a  deep  ravine  or 
defile  of  rocks,  which  rise  on  either  side  to  a  vast  height,  and  form  a  remarkable 
natural  citadel  or  defence.  In  these  rocks,  reaching  to  seven  hundred  feet  in  height, 
are  cut  many  of  the  dwellings  and  sepulchres  of  its  foi'mer  inhabitants,  fully  justifying 
their  being  compared  to  "eagles'  nests."  Silence  and  obscurity  hung  over  the  ruins 
of  this  city  for  ages,  until  they  were  brought  to  light  by  Burckhardt ;  since  then  they 
have  been  graphically  described  by  Laborde,  Robinson,  Bartlett,  and  others.  The 
Edomites  were  in  all  ages  hostile  to  the  Hebrews;  hence,  by  a  figure  of  speech, 
the  enemies  of  the  true  Isi-ael  of  God  are  denominated  Edomites. 

A  number  of  striking  prophecies  concerning  Edom  have  received  an  exact 
fulfilment.  Instructive  particulars  on  this  point  wiU  be  found  in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Keith's 
admirable  work,  "The  Evidence  of  Prophecy." 

2.  The  MoABiTES.  The  land  inhabited  by  the  descendants  of  the  eldest  son  of 
Lot,  is  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan  and  the  Dead  Sea :  its  history  is  intimately  con- 
nected with  that  of  Israel  and  Edom.  The  people  formed  a  powerful  tribe,  though 
too  feeble  or  dispirited  to  offer  resistance  to  the  progress  of  the  Israelites,  when  'on 
their  way  to  Canaan.  They,  however,  succeeded,  conjointly  with  the  Midianites,  in 
enticing  the  children  of  Israel  into  idolatry  and  sin,  Numb.  xxv.  Their  capital  city 
was  Ar,  or  Rabbath-Moab,  situate  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Arnon.  By  the  Greeks 
it  was  called  Areopolis,  or  "the  city  of  Mars."  Its  ruins  have  been  discovered  by 
modern  travellers.  The  vine  and  grain  here  flourish  as  in  former  times,  and  it  is 
still  the  best  pasture  ground  in  all  Syria.  The  prophet  Isaiah  (ch.  xv.,  xvi.)  describes 
many  of  the  chief  towns  of  Moab  as  grieving  over  the  conquest  and  desolation  of  the 
countiy,  caused  by  the  invasion  of  the  Assyrians. 

3.  The  Amalekites  had  their  possessions  on  the  west  of  Edom :  they  were  called, 
in  the  prophecy  of  Balaam,  "the  first  of  the  nations,"  Numb.  xxiv.  20.  They  are 
described  as  occupying  the  whole  region  from.  Shur  in  Egypt  to  Havilah,  or  the 
Persian  Gulf,  1  Sam.  xv.  7. 

4.  The  Midianites  were  the  descendants  of  Abraham  and  Keturah,  through  their 
son  Midian ;  they  settled  near  Mount  Horeb.  A  considerable  part  of  their  land  was 
traversed  by  the  Israelites,  after  they  had  come  out  from  Egypt,  and  towards  whom 
they  manifested  a  friendly  disposition.  There  was,  however,  a  division  or  class  of 
this  people,  who  were  the  allies  of  Moab,  Numb.  xxii.  4,  5,  and  were  overthrown 
by  Gideon,  Judges  vi. 

5.  The  Ammonites,  the  offspring  of  Ben-Ammi,  the  son  of  Lot,  inhabited  the  coun- 
try between  the  rivers  Arnon  and  Jabbok.  They  were  subsequently  driven  by 
th-e   Amorites   more   to   the   east.      This  people  were  in  constant  hostility  with  the 


10  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Israelites  ;  and  against  them  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  Amos,  and  Zephaniah,  were  directed 
to  prophesy.  Their  name  disappears  from  history  before  the  birth  of  Christ ; 
they  were  amalgamated  with  other  tribes  of  Arabs.  Eabbath  was  their  chief  city, 
Deut.  iii.   11. 

6.  The  IsHMAELTTES.  Nebojoth  and  Kedar  were  the  two  eldest  sons  of  Ishmael 
(Gen.  XXV.  13);  the  former  gave  the  name  to  the  region  about  Mount  Hor ;  the 
latter  wandered  far  into  the  centre  of  the  desert,  dwelling  under  black  tents,  covered 
with  hair-cloth,  Sol.  Song,  i.  5.  They  were  rich  in  herds,  Isa.  Ix.  7,  and  were  expert 
and  warlike  archers,  Isa.  xxi.  16,  17  ;  Psa.  cxx.  5,  7.  Dumah,  the  third  son  of  Ishmael, 
directed  his  way  to  the  east,  near  the  Persian  Gulf.  A  prophecy  was  directed  against 
his  descendants,  Isa.  xxi.  11.  Tenia,  the  ninth  son.  Gen.  xxv.  15,  is  spoken  of  by 
Isaiah  (xxi.  14)  in  connexion  with  the  caravans  of  Dedan.  The  other  sons  of  Ishmael 
spread  over  that  part  of  Arabia  which  lies  south  of  Palestine,  extending  as  far  as  Shur, 
near  Egypt,  with  which  latter  country  they  carried  on  commerce  so  early  as  the  days  of 
Jacob,  Gen.  xxxvii.  25  ;   xxxix.  1. 

7.  The  Kenites  ;  a  tribe  of  Midianites,  dwelling  near  or  among  the  Amalekites,  in 
the  south-western  part  of  Arabia  Petrea.  They  "  showed  kindness  to  the  children  of 
Israel  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt,"  and  in  return,  Saul,  when  he  went  against 
the  Amalekites,  desired  them  to  withdraw,  that  they  might  not  share  the  fate  of 
his  enemies.  Numb.  xxiv.  20,  21 ;    1  Sam.  xv.  6. 


PHCENICIA. 

Phoenicia  was  a  fertile  province  of  Syria  on  the  western  declivity  of  Lebanon, 
and  bordering  upon  the  Mediterranean.  Its  limits  varied  at  different  times  :  generally 
it  was  included  within  two  degrees  of  latitude,  and  was  of  narrow  breadth.  In  the 
New  Testament  it  is  known  as  "the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,"  which  cities  it 
included,  as  well  as  some  others  not  mentioned  in  Scriptm-e.  It  was  also  called  Sp'o- 
Phoenicia ;  and  was  in  later  times  considered  as  a  part  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  Matt.  xv. 
22,  24 ;  Mark  vii.  26.  Its  inhabitants  were  enterprising  navigators,  and  the  country 
has  been  honourably  called  "the  birthplace  of  commerce."  Phoenician  pilots  and 
sailors  navigated  the  vessels  of  Solomon;  and  before  other  ships  had  ventured  to 
lose  sight  of  their  own  shores,  colonies  of  this  people  were  estabhshed  in  some  of 
the  most  distant  parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.  They  were  also  distinguished 
for  their  knowledge  of  the  arts  and  sciences.  Phcsnician  workmen  were  employed 
at  the  building  of  the  first  temple,  and  by  Phoenicians  the  knowledge  and  use  of 
letters  were  introduced  into  Greece.  The  climate  of  the  country  is  mild  ;  the  land 
is  abundantly  watered  with  streams,  and  yields  large  crops  of  fruit,  corn,  cotton, 
and  sugar.  But  its  once  populous  and  opulent  cities  are  reduced,  under  the  rule 
of  a  despotic  government,  to  impoverished  villages  or  masses  of  ruins. 

EGYPT. 

Egypt,  next  to  Judea,  holds  the  most  conspicuous  place  in  the  inspired  volume. 
It  is  now  commonly  divided  into  three  great  divisions :— Lower  Egypt,  or  the  Delta, 
so  called  from  its  triangular  shape,  resembling  the  fourth  letter  of  the  Greek  alphabet. 
Central  Egypt,  comprehending  a  considerable  portion  of  the  valley  of  the  Nile ;  the 
most  fertile  part  of  the  whole  country.  Upper  Egypt,  or  Said,  where  the  mountains  that 
inclose  the  valley,  mostly  press  "  so  closely  on  the  river  as  to  render  the  district  little 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


11 


^  more  than  a  mouutain  glen."  Egypt,  in 
fact,  may  be  said  to  consist  of  the  valley 
of  the  Nile,  ascending  from  north  to  south ; 
all  beyond  being  wide  and  almost  unin- 
habitable desert.  Upper  Egypt  is  also 
kno^vn  in  Scripture  as  Pathros,  or  "  the 
land  of  the  south,"  Ezek.  xxix.  14;  xxx. 
14  ;  Jer.  xliv.  15. 

The  ancient  name  of  Egypt  was  Mizraim 
or  Misr,  from  the  son  of  Ham,  who  first 
peopled  it  after  the  deluge.  The  present 
inhabitants  still  call  it  Misr  Bochart,  how- 
ever, contends  that  the  word  Misraim  is  to 
be  understood  as  a  dual  form  to  denote 
the  two  Egypts,  the  Upper  and  the  Lower, 
and  that  it  is  derived  from  a  word  mean- 
ing "  narrow,"  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of 
H  the  country.  In  the  poetical  parts  of  the 
Bible  it  is  sometimes  called  Eahab,  Isa. 
li.  9;  Psa.  Ixxxix.  10;  a  name  signifying 
"sea-monster,"  probably  in  allusion  to  the 
crocodiles  and  other  aquatic  animals  for 
which  the  Nile  was  celebrated.*  Some 
weogi-aphers  have  considered  the  Egyptian 
valley  as  belonging  to  Asia,  rather  than 
Africa.  Others  have  divided  the  country 
into  two  parts,  the  east  and  the  west  banks 
J  of  the  Nile,  assigning  the  former  to  Asia, 
the  latter  to  Africa,  f 
Egypt,  as  the  scene  of  the  captivity  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  as  the  subsequent 
conqueror  of  that  people,  as  well  as  from  the  frequent  intercourse  between  the  two 
nations,  is  a  country  of  high  interest  to  the  biblical  student.  In  the  prophetical 
writings  of  the  Old  Testament,  Egypt  is  frequently  noticed.  Isaiah  publishes  "  the 
burden  of  Egypt,"  in  the  nineteenth  chapter  of  his  prophecy,  in  which  he  foretells 
the  internal  dissensions  of  the  country,  and,  as  is  commonly  interpreted,  the  cruelties 
of  Cambyses,  and  the  severe  calamities  under  which  the  country  suffered.  He 
announces  also  the  worship  of  the  true  God ;  and  the  deliverance  of  Egypt,  as  is 
conjectured,  by  the  interposition  of  Alexander  the  Great,  in  the  age  of  the  Ptolemies 
and  Seleucidse.  Jeremiah,  who  lived  in  the  time  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  attack  on 
Jerusalem,  and  subsequently  became  a  sojourner  in  the  Egj-ptian  territory,  has 
many  messages  from  God  respecting  the  history  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  predicting 
particularly  its  overthrow  by  the  power  of  Nebuchadnezzar.  Ezekiel  foretells  in 
like  manner  the  conquest  of  Egypt,  and  its  subsequent  degradation  as  the  basest 
of  the  kingdoms,  no  more  exalted  above  the  nations,  and  having  no  more  its  own 
prince.  Joel  declares,  that  "  Egypt  shall  be  a  desolation  ;"  and  Zechariah,  that  its 
"sceptre  shall  depart."  A  survey  of  Egyptian  histoiy,  and  its  present  abject  con- 
dition amidst  the  nations,  sufficiently  illustrate  the  truth  of  these  prophecies.! 
*  Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopsedia,  vol.  ii.  t  Sir  G.  Wilkinson's  Ancient  Egyptians. 

+  Ancient  Egypt :  Monthly  Series  of  the  Religious  Tract  Society. 


THE  NILE. 


— -1 

12  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS-  \ 

There  is  one  impressive  fact  which  must  not  be  forgotten.  Egypt  was  the  j 
home  of  Jesus,  when  a  child,  according  to  the  ancient  prophecy,  Hos.  xi.  1 ;  Matt, 
ii.  15.  Here  He  dwelt  who,  in  his  Divine  nature,  is  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  ( 
lords,  but  who  "  humbled  himself,  and  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,"  that  j 
as  man  he  might  become  the  Substitute  and  Surety  of  all  who,  through  his  Spirit,  j 
should  be  brought  to  believe  in  his  name. 

The  fertility  and  wealth  of  Egypt  are  caused  by  the  annual  overflow  of  its  far-     } 
famed  river.     In  the  month  of  May  the  whole  land  becomes  parched,  and  assumes     j 
the  appearance  of  a  wilderness.     By  June  men  and  animals  ai-e  suffering  from  the 
thirst  and  heat   induced  by  the   scorching  and  dry  atmospliere.     Early  in  July  the     i 
mountain  waters  from  Abyssinia  begin  to  flow  down  and  join  the  Nile.     The  river     j 
continues  to  rise  from  that  time,  and  gradually  overflows  its  banks,  till  the  end  of    i 
September,  when  nearly  the  whole  land  is  converted  into  a  red  muddy  sea,  while 
the  only  prominent  objects  above  the  waters  are  the  cities,  towns,  date-trees,  and 
the   dykes,  which  latter  now  serve  as  footpaths  for  traffic.     In  November  the  seed- 
com  is  sown,  when  the  waters  begin  to  recede;    and  from  December  to  February, 
the  whole  land  is  a  paradise  of  fertility.     At  the  close  of  April  the  harvest  is  gathered 
and  sto}-ed,   and  the  land  returns  to   its  arid   and  sterile  appearance.     The  pi'oduce 
of  corn   from   the  rich   slime,  which  is  deposited    over  the  land  at  the  subsidence 
of  the  waters,  is  astonishingly  abundant.     Hence  Egypt  has,  in  all  ages,  been  noted 
for  its  supplies  to  neighbouring  countries,  particularly  Syria  and  Arabia.     In  times 
of  scarcity,  which  were  frequent  in  those   countries,  Egypt  alone    could   save   their 
numerous   population  from   famine.      The   affecting    story    of   Jacob    and  his   sons 
furnishes  a  striking  illustration  of  this  fact. 

The  various  branches  of  the  Nile  have  their  rise  in  the  high  lands  north  of  the 
equator ;  and,  flowing  through  Abyssinia  and  other  regions  westward  of  it,  meet 
in  the  country  of  Senaar.  The  united  stream  flows  northward  through  Nubia  and 
Egypt,  and  after  a  course  of  more  than  1800  miles  from  the  farthest  explored  point 
of  its  principal  branch,  enters  the  Mediterranean  by  several  mouths,  which  form 
the  Delta  of  Egypt.  In  a  distance  of  1350  nautical  miles  the  Nile  does  not  receive 
a  sino-le  tributary  stream,  which,  as  Humboldt  remarks,  is  a  solitaiy  instance  in 
the  hydrographic  history  of  the  globe.  The  Nile  is  known  in  Scripture  as  Sihor, 
or  Shihor,  Isa.  xxiii.  3 ;  Jer.  ii.   18. 

The  province  of  Goshen,  which  was  given  by  Pharaoh  to  Jacob  and  his  family, 
was  the  southern  part  of  the  Delta.  Goshen  means  "  pasture-land."  It  has  always 
been  celebrated  for  its  fertility,  and  was  therefore  well  suited  for  the  purposes  of 
shepherds.  It  possessed  the  further  advantage  of  nearness  to  the  wilderness  of 
Etham,  through  which  their  cattle  could  range  during  the  winter.  According  to 
Dr.  Eobinson,  the  inhabitants  of  this  region  "still  drive  their  mingled  flocks  of 
sheep  and  goats  for  pasturage  to  this  quarter  of  the  desert."  In  the  district  generally 
assigned  as  the  ancient  Goshen,  traces  are  found,  it  is  thought,  of  the  residence  of 
the  Israelites  in  large  heaps  of  niins,  called  by  the  Arabs  "  Jews'  hills  "  and  "  Jews' 
graves."*  Eobinson,  however,  is  disposed  to  think  that  these  mounds  can  only  be 
referred  back  to  the  centuries  immediately  preceding  the  Christian  era. 

Our  first  acquaintance  with  the  Egj'ptians  in  Scripture  introduces  us  to  them 
as  a  people  arrived  at  a  high  degree  of  civilization.  It  is  evident  from  the  ancient 
monuments  now  existing,  that  at  a  ver)^  early  period  they  had  reached  an  advanced 
state   of  perfection   in   agriculture,   legislation,   and  the    arts.      Many   learned   men 

•  Niebulir,  i.  100. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  13 

have  directed  their  attention  to  the  remains  now  profusely  scattered  over  the  country, 
and  have  found  in  them  unambiguous  corroboration  of  Scripture  history.  "  The 
whole  monumental  wonders  and  antiquities  of  the  land  seem  to  have  been  pre- 
seiTed  as  if  for  the  express  purpose  of  evincing  the  authenticity  and  illustrating  the 
narratives  of  the  Bible ;  every  single  allusion  of  which,  either  to  the  circumstances 
of  the  countrv  or  of  the  people,  is  seen  to  have  the  minutest  consistency  with 
truth — so  strikingly  indeed,  as  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  every  Egyptian 
antiquary."  * 

The  River  of  Egypt  (Numb,  xxxiv.  5 ;  Josh.  xv.  4,  47 ;  9  Kings  xxiv.  7).  or 
Sihor.  Though  by  way  of  eminence  the  term  may  be  applied  to  the  Nile,  which 
was  called  emphatically  "  The  river,"  Gen.  xli.  1,  yet  in  several  places  of  the  Old 
Testament  it  refers  to  a  much  smaller  stream,  situate  at  the  southern  border  of 
Canaan.  Dr.  Richardson  supposes  it  to  be  a  small  rivulet,  about  thirty  yards  wide, 
called  Wady  Gaza,  and  which  is  quite  dry  in  summer..  It  is  more  generally 
considered  to  be  the  stream  El-Arish.  Amos  calls  it  "  the  river  of  the  wilderness," 
(vi.   14,)  as  being  on  the  border  of  an  extensive  tract  of  desert  countiy. 

[For  the  principal  places  and  cities  of  Egj-pt,  we  must  refer  to  the  Gazetteer,  at 
the  end.] 

ASSYRIA. 

In  ancient  geography,  Assyria  is  a  country  east  of  the  Tigris,  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Ai'menia,  east  by  Media,  and  south  by  Susiana  and  Chaldea.  It  is  to  be  distinguished 
from  S}Tia,  (Aram,)  the  country  of  which  Damascus  was  the  capital,  and  whose  boundary 
joined  the  land  of  Israel  on  the  south.  As  a  kingdom  it  is  generally  said  to  have  been 
founded  by  Asshur  or  Assur,  the  son  of  Shem,  who,  on  leaving  Shinar,  travelled  northward 
and  founded  Nineveh.  Bochart,  Faber,  and  Hales,  however,  adopt  the  marginal  reading 
of  Gen.  X.  11 :  "  Out  of  that  land,  he"  (that  is  Nimrod)  "  went  out  into  Assyria  (Asshur) 
and  builded  Nineveh  ;"  which  interpretation  is  now  commonly  adopted. 

Assyria  is  watered  by  several  rivers,  the  chief  of  which  is  the  Tigris,  or  Hiddekel  of 
Scripture.  The  southern  and  northern  parts  of  the  land  are  mountainous,  though 
well  adapted  for  pasturage,  and  the  growth  of  fruit,  corn,  and  cotton.  In  these  mountains 
Shalmaneser  colonized  the  inhabitants  of  Ephraim  and  Galilee,  when  he  put  an  end  to 
the  kingdom  of  the  ten  tribes,  2  Kings  xvii.  They  are  now  inhabited  partly  by  the 
Nestorians  :  their  forefathers  embraced  Christianity,  which  once  flom'ished  among  them, 
but  for  several  centuries  the  people  have  sunk  into  a  rude  and  superstitious  ignorance, 
and  are  now  the  objects  of  missionary  enterprise. 

The  first  mention  in  Scripture  of  the  Assyrian  empire  is  upon  the  mission  of  Jonah 
to  Nineveh,  about  869  b.c.  ;  after  that  time  it  is  more  or  less  connected  with  the  history 
of  the  Jews.  For  a  long  period  it  was  of  small  extent,  but  there  arose  a  succession  of 
warlike  kings,  wlio  carried  their  conquests  over  Media,  Persia,  Mesopotamia,  Palestine, 
and  other  countries,  and  who  formed  one  of  the  mightiest  sovereignties  which  have 
existed  on  the  earth,  b.c.  750  to  b.c.  612.  This  vast  empire  was  subverted  by  the 
Chaldeans  under  Nebuchadnezzar :  since  then  Assyria  has  successively  belonged  to  the 
Greeks,  Romans,  Persians,  Saracens,  and  Turks. 

Nineveh  was  built  on  the  Tigris,  and  by  some  writers  is  estimated  to  have  been 
forty-eight,  or  even  sixty,  miles  in  circumference.     In  the  book  of  Jonah  it  is  described 
as  "an  exceeding  great  city,  of  three  days' journey."     It  was  surrounded  by  a  wall  one 
*  Dr.  Wilson's  Lands  of  the  Bible  :  see  ako  Osbum's  Antiqxiities  of  Egypt. 


14  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

hundred  feet  high,  and  so  broad  that  three  carriages  could  be  driven  abreast  on  it. 
Fifteen  hundred  towers,  each  two  hundred  feet  high,  at  intervals,  protected  the  city. 
In  the  days  of  Jonah  there  were  in  it  120,000  children  "who  knew  not  their  right  hand 
from  their  left;"  which  would  lead  to  the  calculation,  that  it  possessed  2,000,000  of 
inhabitants.  Her  merchants  are  said  by  the  prophet  Nahum  (iii.  16)  to  have  been  more 
in  number  than  the  stars  of  heaven. 

The  Greek  historian  Herodotus  records  the  fate  of  Nineveh,  and  indicates  the  spot 
where  it  stood ;  but  after  his  time  the  site  of  this  renowned  city  was  rapidly  forgotten, 
and  for  ages  was  a  matter  of  conjecture.  In  the  second  century  of  the  Christian  era, 
Lucian,  who  was  a  native  of  a  city  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  says  that  "no  vestiges 
of  it  at  present  remain,  nor  can  it  be  easily  ascertained  whei-e  formerly  it  stood. "  Sub- 
sequent wi-iters  considered  the  knowledge  of  its  locality  as  entirely  lost.  During  the 
present  half  century,  however,  by  the  researches  of  Eich,  Botta,  and  especially  Layard, 
not  only  has  its  site  been  clearly  ascertained,  but  the  treasures  of  antiquity,  concealed 
for  centuries  beneath  extensive  mounds  of  earth,  have  been  uncovered,  and  much  light 
has  thus  been  thrown  on  the  customs  and  rehgious  rites  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  once 
famous  place.  Mr.  Layard  commenced  in  1845  the  excavation  of  the  great  mound, 
lono-  known  to  the  natives  of  the  region  by  the  name  Nimroud,  situate  near  the  Tigris. 
The  singularly  interesting  details  of  his  progress  and  success  will  be  foimd  in  his 
valuable  work,  "  Nineveh  and  its  Kemains."  *  Many  of  the  massive  sculptures,  bas- 
reliefs,  instruments  of  war  and  domestic  articles,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation, 
recovered  from  the  ruins,  now  enrich  the  treasures  of  the  British  Museum.  Several  of 
these  striking  monuments  throw  a  new  and  valuable  light  on  various  portions  of  the 
prophetical  writings  of  Ezekiel,  Nahum,  and  Zephaniah,  and  confirm  the  truth  of  the 
sacred  writings. 

AKAM,  OR  SYRIA. 

Aram,  or  "the  high  land,"  was  the  original  name  of  Syria,  and  a  part  of 
Mesopotamia.  The  Grecian  name  Syria,  is  of  doubtful  origin.  It  was  peopled 
by  Ai\am,  the  fifth  son  of  Shem.  It  forms  a  part  of  the  lofty  and  extensive  chain 
of  mountains  known  as  Lebanon,  including  the  celebrated  Hermon  and  Her.  Some 
of  the  most  beautiful  and  poetical  passages  of  the  Scripture  have  reference  to  this 
pasture  range.  The  Orontes,  Abana,  and  Pharpar  are  the  most  distinguished  rivers, 
adding  to  the  splendour  of  the  landscape  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil. 

Little  more  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  Syria  than  that  its  people  were  a 
populous  and  powerful  nation,  divided  into  tribes,  and  maintained  their  independence 
for  centuries.  In  the  time  of  David,  Hadadezer,  king  of  Zobah,  appears  to  have  held 
the  other  chiefs  as  tributaries.  But  in  the  course  of  time  the  sovereign  authority  was 
transferred  to  Damascus,  1  Kings  xi.  24.  The  Syrians  were  most  hostile  neighbours  to 
the  Israelites,  and  on  several  occasions  invaded  their  land.  At  length  the  latter  were 
overcome  by  Tiglath-Pileser,  and  their  country  added  as  a  province  to  the  Assyrian 
empire,  2  Kings  xvi.  Syria  was  favoured  with  the  gospel  in  the  first  days  of  the 
Christian  church.  St.  Paul  and  other  apostles  laboured  at  Damascus  and  Antioch,  and 
to  a  great  extent,  idolatry  gave  place  to  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  cross.  At  the  present 
time,  the  inhabitants  belong  to  the  Greek,  Syrian,  Eomish,  and  Armenian  churches ; 
but  ignorance  and  superstition  extensively  prevail  among  all  classes  and  sects. 

*  Those  who  wish  an  epitomized  account  of  the  discoveries  of  modern  travellers  in  this  region,  axe 
referred  to  the  Religious  Tract  Society's  Monthly  Volume  entitled  "  Nineveh  and  the  Tigris."  Price  6J. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  15 

The  petty  kingdoms  into  which  Syria  was  divided  varied  very  much  during  the 
period  of  Old  Testament  history.     The  following  are  the  principal  :— 

Aeam-Beth-Eehob  was  in  Coelesyria,  or,  "  hoUow  Syria,"  which  lay  between  the 
two  great  ridges  of  Libanus  and  Anti-libanus.  The  most  remarkable  object  remaining 
in  this  region  is  the  splendid  ruin  of  Baalbec,  or  the  temple  of  the  sun. 

Aram-Beth-Maachah  included  the  southern  declivity  of  Hermon  and  the  adjoining 
district.  The  Syrians  of  Maachah  were  conquered  by  the  army  of  David,  under 
Joab,  2  Sam.  x.  6 — 14. 

Ae.ui-Dammesek  lay  between  the  rivers  of  Abana  and  Pharpar,  having  Damascus 
for  its  chief  city.     The  "land  of  Hadrach,"  Zech  ix.  1,  formed  a  part  of  this  country. 

Aram-Zobah  was  on  the  north  of  Damascus,  stretching  eastwards  to  the  Euphrates, 
forming  the  most  extensive  and  powerful  of  these  minor  kingdoms.  Its  princes 
commonly  bore  the  name  of  Hadadezer.  In  the  time  of  David,  the  king  of  Zobah 
held  the  other  chiefs  as  tributaries.  But  in  the  course  of  time,  the  sovereign  authority 
was  transferred  to  Damascus.  Many  flom'ishing  cities  belonged  to  this  division,  as 
Riblah,  Tadmor,  Helbon,  Antioch,  Seleucia,  and  Carchemish. 

Aeam-Hamath,  which  now  constitutes  the  pro\dnce  of  Orontes.  Its  capital  was 
called  by  Amos  (vi.  2),  "  Hamath  the  great,"  and  was  one  of  the  oldest  cities  of  the 
world.     In  Gen.  x,  18,  the  Hamathites  are  named  among  the  descendants  of  Canaan. 

Aeam-Maachah  adjoined  the  portion  of  Eeuben  on  the  south  :  its  name  signifies  a 
country  hemmed  in  or  inclosed  by  mountains. 

Aram-Nahaeaim,  or  "Syria  between  the  two  rivers,"  was  also  called  Padan-Ai-am, 
"  the  plain  of  Aram ; "  it  was  termed  Mesopotamia  by  the  Greeks.    See  Mesopotamia. 

Aram-Hauran  was  an  extensive  district  on  the  north-east  of  Canaan. 

There  were  some  other  minor  disti'icts  in  Aram,  which,  however,  have  no  connexion 
with  Scripture  history. 

ARARAT,  OR  ARMENIA  MAJOR. 

The  name  of  this  extensive  region  is,  by  some  authors,  derived  from  Ar-men,  which 
denotes  "  the  mountainous  country  of  Meni,"  or  Minni.  Its  inhabitants  are  men- 
tioned under  the  latter  name,  by  Jeremiah  (li.  27.)  In  the  original  text  of  the  Bible 
it  is  called  the  land  of  Ararat,  Isa.  xxxvii.  38,  and  the  kingdom  of  Ararat,  2  Kings,  xix. 
37.  The  whole  of  the  country  is  elevated,  and  intersected  by  the  extensive  I'anges  of 
the  Caucasus  and  Taurus,  which,  during  a  greater  part  of  the  yeai%  are  covered  to  a 
considerable  depth  with  snow.  Among  these  mountains  the  Tigris  and  the  Euphrates 
have  their  rise,  as  well  as  other  streams  of  lesser  note.  Armenia  possesses  a  dry,  clear 
atmosphere,  and  is  salubrious.  The  valleys  are  warm  and  fruitful :  in  ancient  times, 
the  country  is  said  to  have  abounded  in  precious  stones  and  metals.  The  early 
inhabitants  of  Armenia  were  known  for  their  warlike  habits,  but  the  moderns  are 
devoted  to  trr.cle  imd  commerce,  in  the  pursuit  of  which,  they  are  found  in  most  parts 
of  the  world.  Their  religion  differs  but  little  from  the  Greek  Church  in  its  ritual  and 
government.  The  country  is  now  divided  in  subjection  to  the  Persians,  the  Turks, 
and  the  Russians. 

Eden  has  been  placed  in  Armenia ;  but  after  all  the  resources  of  learning  and 
researches  of  geographers,  nothing  can  be  satisfactorily  affirmed  on  the  subject.  Eden 
is  declared  to  have  been  intersected  by  the  rivers  Hiddekel,  or  the  Tigris,  and  ths 
Euphrates,  Gen.  ii.  14,  which  has  led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  abode  of  our  first 
parents  was  in  a  part  of  the  countr}^  of  South  Armenia.     "The  rivers  Pishon  and  Gihon 


16  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

may  have  been  only  branches  of  the  two  larger  rivers,  as  the  two  words  in  the  Oriental 
languages  are  appellatives,  separate  or  prefixed,  signifying  a  stream  in  general."* 

Mount  Akakat,  on  which  the  ark  rested,  is  shown  by  modem  travellers,  as  well  as 
the  tradition  of  the  people,  to  be  Mount  Masis,  a  name  signifying  "  the  mountain 
of  descent."  It  is  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  Ai-menia.  Since  the  days  of  Noah, 
it  is  probable  no  human  being  even  reached  its  summit,  until,  in  1829,  Dr.  Parrot,  a 
German,  after  a  perilous  adventure  succeeded  in  standing  on  one  of  the  highest 
summits  of  the  mountain.  The  snow-crowned  summit  of  this  mighty  peak  is  sometimes 
visible  at  a  distance  of  nearly  two  hundred  miles.  "  The  approach  to  the  mountain  is 
very  impressive.  A  vast  plain  lies  before  it,  studded  with  numerous  villages;  the  glittering 
waters  of  a  noble  river  flow  through  the  fresh  green  of  the  vale,  and  several  ranges  of 
mountains  are  clustered  around  the  base  of  the  huge  Ararat.  The  ice-peaks  of  its 
double  head  rise  in  majesty  into  a  cloudless  sky;  and  as  the  sun  blazes  on  the  snow,  a 
radiance  is  reflected  that  dazzles  the  eyes  of  the  beholder.  Unable  to  rest  for  any 
length  of  time  upon  the  bright  glory  of  the  summits,  the  eye  wanders  down  its  giant 
sides,  until  the  thoughts  are  bewildered  and  lost  in  the  grandeur  of  the  scene."t 

CHALD^A,  OR  BABYLONIA. 

The  two  names,  Babylonia  and  Chaldsea,  are  generally  applied  to  the  same 
countiy.  The  city  of  Babylon  gave  its  name  to  the  region  around  it,  which  was 
more  anciently  known  as  the  land  of  Shinar,  Gen.  x.  10;  xi.  2:  the  south-eastern 
part  of  the  country,  lying  towards  Arabia,  was  more  strictly  known  to  the  prophets 
as  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  Jer.  xxiv.  5;  Ezek.  xii.  13.  The  former,  Babylonia, 
was  "  the  desert  of  the  sea"  of  Isaiah,  (xxi.  1),  and  by  Jeremiah  was  said  to  "  dwell 
upon  many  waters,"  (li.  13).  The  latter  term,  Chaldsea,  was  derived  from  the  fact 
of  the  inundations  of  the  Euphrates,  as  also  from  the  numerous  canals,  described 
by  early  writers,  formed  to  carry  off  the  floodings,  and  for  purposes  of  transit. 
These  were  "  the  waters  of  Babylon,"  by  which  the  children  of  Israel  sat  down  and 
wept,  Psa.  cxxxvii.  1. 

Chaldsea,  in  its  enlarged  sense,  was  bounded  on  the  south-west  by  the  Persian 
Gulf;  by  Mesopotamia  and  Assyria  on  the  north ;  Persia  and  Susiana  on  the  east, 
and  Arabia  on  the  west.  Mr.  Faber  supposes  that  the  countiy  was  early  peopled  by 
the  Chasdim,  or  Chusdira,  who  were  the  remnant  of  the  military  Cuthites,  and  that 
they  continued  to  occupy  Babylonia  after  the  dispersion  of  their  brethren.  They 
were  a  tribe  of  pastoral  warriors,  who  besides  professed  themselves  to  be  magi,  or 
astrologers.  In  such  capacity  they  probably  continued  long  to  exist  in  Babylonia, 
as  a  distinct  race  of  priests  and  philosophers,  rather  than  as  a  nation  of  themselves. 
The  Chaldtean  language  was  not  unlike  the  Hebrew;  some  small  portions  of  the  Old 
Testament  Scriptures  are  written  in  it,  as  Dan.  ii.  4  to  vii.  28  ;  Ezra  iv.  8  to  vi.  8  ; 
vii.  12—16;   Jer.  x.  11. 

The  soil  of  Chaldaa  is  astonishingly  fertile;  wheat  and  barley  yield  from  two 
hundred  to  three  hundred-fold.  Commerce  was  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent 
by  means  of  the  large  navigable  rivers  and  canals,  which  opened  on  the  west  the 
trade  of  Syi-ia  and  Asia  Minor,  and  of  Persia,  Ai'abia,  and  India  on  the  east.  It 
was  "  a  land  of  traffic,  a  city  of  merchants,"  Ezek.  xvii.  4.  The  kingdom  was  one  of 
the  four  "  thrones"  described  by  Daniel,  and  is  set  forth  under  the  symbol  of  a  lion 
with  eagle's  wings. 

•  Dr.  J.  Pye  Smith,  in  Kitto's  Biblical  Cycloptedia,  art.  Paradise.        t  Sir  R.  K.  Portei's  Travels. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS- 


17 


Babylon,  thq  metropolis,  also  called  Sheshach,  was  built  by  Nimrod,  on  the  same 
spot  as  the  tower  of  Babel  (see  page  5.)  It  was  raised  to  its  greatest  state  of  splendour 
under  Nebuchadnezzar,  so  as  to  be  entitled  "  The  glory  of  kingdoms,  the  beauty 
of  the  Chaldee's  excellency."  References  are  frequently  made  in  the  sacred  volume 
to  its  magnificence,  its  splendid  temples  and  its  golden  idols,  its  great  extent  and 
luxurious  inhabitants  It  was,  according  to  Herodotus,  sixty  miles  in  circumference. 
The  shape  of  the  city  was  that  of  a  square,  traversed  each  way  by  twenty-five  prin- 
cipal streets,  intersecting  each  other.  The  walls,  from  the  most  moderate  accounts, 
were  seventy-five  feet  in  height,  and  thirty-two  in  breadth.  They  were  surrounded 
by  a  deep  ditch,  and  were  entered  by  a  hundred  gates,  formed  of  solid  brass.  Within 
the  city  was  the  temple  of  Belus,  or  Jupiter,  forming  a  square  of  a  quarter  of  a 
mile.     As  a  considerable  portion  of  the  area  consisted   of  gardens   and  plantations, 

Major  Eennel  supposes  that  Babylon, 
in  its  most  flourishing  state,  did  not 
contain  more  than  1,200,000  inhabit- 
ants. The  ruins  of  this  celebrated  place 
are  of  prodigious  extent,  and  some  of 
them  remarkable  for  their  size,  solidity, 
and  perfect  state.  The  map  here  given 
will  show  the  present  position  of  the 
ruins,  and  the  several  features  of  the 
country.  The  appearances  of  the  im- 
mense masses  of  ruin  are  grand,  gloomy, 
and  desolate,  strikingly  answering  to 
the  doom  denounced  by  the  prophets 
against  this  "  golden  city."  It  is  indeed 
"  a  possession  for  the  bittern,  and  pools 
of  water;"  swept  "with  the  besom  of 
destruction,"  Isa.  xiv.  4—23.*  Its  walls, 
temples,  and  palaces,  have  long  since 
been  destroyed,  and  solitude  now  reigns 
on  a  spot  where  once  the  sounds  of  life 
were  heard  from  assembled  multitudes. 
The  remains  consist  of  three  principal 
piles,  and  are  severally  known  as  the 
Mujellibe,  the  Kasr,  and  the  Birs  Nim- 
roud.  These  have  been  explored  by 
Messrs.  Rich,  Buckingham,  and  Mignan, 
and  other  modern  travellers,  whose  in- 
teresting descriptions  of  these  memorials 


of  fallen  greatness  teach  a  solemn  lesson  to  mankind.  They  impressively  illustrate 
the  truth,  that  the  loftiest  and  boldest  will  be  visited  for  their  sins,  and  that  neither 
nation  nor  individual  has  ever  hardened  himself  against  God  and  prospered  The 
only  way  to  avert  His  just  displeasure  is  by  timely  repentance,  and  imfeigned  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  only  Saviour  of  sinners. 

♦  See  Keith's  Evidence  of  Prophecy;    also  Babylon  and  the  Euplii-ates,   being  No.   62  of  the 
Monthly  Series. 


18  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


MEDLl. 

Ancient  Media  comprised  that  portion  of  Western  Asia  which  lay  on  the  north  of 
Elam,  or  West  Persia.  It  ejctended  from  the  Caspian  Sea  to  the  borders  of  Persia 
Proper,  and  was  divided  into  Lesser  and  Greater  Media.  The  latter  enibraced  a 
mountainous  region,  with  broad,  fertile  valleys,  enjoying  a  salubrious  climate.  Lesser 
Media  is,  for  the  most  part,  warm,  damp,  and  tmhealthy,  though  favourable  to 
vej^etable  growth.  The  mountains  are  adorned  with  extensive  forests  of  oak,  beech, 
and  chestnut  trees.  This  is  the  native  land  of  the  peach :  oranges  and  other  fruits 
are  produced  in  abundance.  The  land  contains  many  fountains  of  naphtha,  which 
have  burnt  from  one  centmy  to  another,  and  are  the  objects  of  Divine  honours  by 
the  fire-worshippers  who  reside  near  them.  The  capital  of  the  land  was  Ecbatana, 
founded,  or  strengthened  and  enlarged,  by  Dejoces,  (the  Arphaxad  of  the  Apo- 
crypha,) the  first  independent  king  of  the  country.  The  whole  of  Media  belonged, 
at  a  very  early  period,  to  the  Assyrian  empire.  After  the  time  of  Sennacherib, 
Media  obtained  the  pre-eminence,  and  in  its  turn  Assyria  was  reduced  to  one  of 
its  provinces.  Contemporaneously  with  the  downfall  of  Babylon,  "the  kingdom 
and  laws"  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  arose.  To  this  land  Shalmaneser  carried 
his  Israelitish  captives,  on  his  taking  Samaria,  their  capital,  2  Kings  xviii.  9—11, 
B.C.  791.  The  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  land  are  supposed  to  have  descended 
from  Madai,  the  third  son  of  Japheth.  They  were  bold  and  relentless  warriors, 
Jer.  li.  11,  28;  Isa.  xiii.  17,  18,  and  for  many  ages  they  occupied  a  distinguished 
position  in  the  history  of  nations,  until  the  time  of  Cyrus,  b.c.  538,  when  they  became 
incorporated  with  the  Persians,  and  so  continue  to  the  present  day. 

PAETHIA. 

Parthia  was  on  the  north-eastern  boundary  of  the  Greater  Media.  According  to 
Justm  the  name  Parthians  signifies,  in  the  Scythian  language,  "exiles"  or  "wan- 
derers." At  first  the  term  Parthia  referred  only  to  a  small  mountainous  district, 
but  afterwards  had  a  more  extended  application.  It  Avas  for  many  ages  a  province 
of  Persia.  Having  been  subdued  by  Alexander  the  Great,  about  330  b.c,  it  came 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Grecian  empire.  In  the  year  250  before  the  Christian 
era,  Arsaces,  a  noble  chieftain,  threw  off  his  allegiance,  and  by  a  successful  revolt 
became  the  founder  of  the  Parthian  kingdom.  He  followed  up  his  conquests  by 
an  invasion  of  Persia,  and  extended  his  authority  on  tlie  west  to  the  banks  of  the 
Euphrates.  The  empire  which  he  established  maintained  itself  for  nearly  five 
hundred  years ;  but,  at  length,  the  Persians  subdued  the  reigning  monarch  of  Parthia. 
and  annexed  the  country  to  their  dommions.  Among  the  Jews  who  came  to  Jeru- 
salem to  celebrate  the  passover  were  some  from  Parthia,  Acts  ii.  9.  Christianity 
spread  among  the  people,  but  appears  soon  to  have  degenerated  from  its  simplicity, 
and  at  the  present  day  only  a  few  Ai-menians  represent  the  Christian  faith,  and  that 
in  a  degenerate  form.  The  ancient  Parthians  were  noted  for  their  skill  in  archeiy 
and  horsemanship.  They  have  been  called  the  Cossacks  of  the  east.  Calmet  sup- 
poses that  their  name  means  "  horsemen."  The  peculiar  mode  of  discharging  their 
arrows  while  they  were  retiring  full  speed,  has  been  greatly  celebrated  by  the  ancients, 
who  observed,  that  their  flight  was  more  terrible  than  their  attack.  The  country 
consists  principally  of  bare  mountains  and  sandy  steppes,  and   is  but  thinly  peopled. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  19 


PERSIA. 


Persia,  called  by  the  Hebrews  Paras,  was  in  its  oi'iginal  state  of  small  extent,  confined 
probably  to  the  single  jjrovince  now  kno\vn  as  Phars,  a  district  first  mentioned  in 
Scripture  as  Elam,  from  the  eldest  son  of  Shem,  who  settled  hei'e.  In  its  widest  range, 
Persia  was  bounded  by  Media  and  the  Great  Desert  on  the  north,  Assyria  on  the  west, 
the  Persian  Gulf  on  the  south,  and  eastward  by  another  desert  that  lay  between  it  and 
the  river  Indus.  The  history  of  this  country  properly  begins  in  the  time  of  Cyrus, 
B.C.  536,  previous  to  which  the  country  was  subject  chiefly  to  the  Medes.  At  length  it 
became  so  extended  as  to  include  Elam,  Media,  Palestine,  and  even  Assyria;  and  in  its 
height  of  glory  extended  to  2800  miles  in  length,  and  2000  in  breadth.  In  its  enlarged 
boundary  it  is  spoken  of  in  Scripture,  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  20,  22;  Ezra  iv.  5;  vi.  14; 
Esth.  i.  3,  18  ;  x.  2.  Several  of  the  monarchs  of  Persia  are  mentioned  in  the  sacred 
writings.  Cyrus,  who  began  to  reign  in  the  year,  e.g.  559,  issued  a  decree  in  favour  of 
the  return  of  the  Jews  to  their  native  land,  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  j52;  Ezra  i.  7,  8.  His  son 
Cambyses,  or  Ahasuerus,  suspended  the  building  of  the  temple,  Ezra  iv.  6.  Smerdes, 
or  Artaxerxes,  continued  to  prohibit  the  progress  of  the  work  of  God  at  Jerusalem, 
Ezra  iv.  7  ;  but  Darius,  who  ascended  the  throne,  b.c.  521,  published  an  edict  in  favour 
of  the  Jews,  which  encouraged  them  to  proceed  with  vigour  in  the  erection  of  their 
temple  and  city.  His  grandson,  Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  called  Aliasuerus  in  the 
Scriptures,  raised  Esther  to  the  throne,  and  greatly  favoured  her  people,  Ezra  vii.  1 ; 
Esth.  ii.  16.  Persepohs  was  the  capital  of  this  kingdom.  It  is  now  a  heap  of  ruins, 
among  which  Sir  John  Chardin  observed  figures  of  rams'  heads  with  horns,  one  liigher 
and  the  other  lower,  "  exactly  corresponding,"  as  Dr.  Hales  observes,  "  to  Daniel's  vision 
of  the  Medo-Persian  empire,  Dan.  viii.  3,  the  lower  horn  denoting  the  Medes ;  the  higher, 
which  came  up  last,  the  Persians."  Herodotus  determines  the  position  of  Palestine  in 
the  Persian  empire:  he  says,  "  Under  the  fifth  satrapy  was  comprehended  the  tract  of 
country  which  extends  from  the  city  Posideum,  built  on  the  frontiers  of  Cilicia  and  Syria, 
as  far  as  Egypt,  part  of  Arabia  alone  excluded.  The  same  satrapy,  moreover,  included 
all  Phoenicia,  the  Syrian  Palestine,  and  the  isle  of  Cyprus."  Over  this  province  it  would 
appear  that  Tatnai,  mentioned  Ezra  v.  6,  governed.  In  the  time  of  Nehemia,  Syria 
appears  to  have  formed  more  than  one  government :  see  Neh.  ii.  7 — 9  ;  which  also  is 
learned  from  common  history.  When  divided,  it  is  probable  that  Palestine  was 
included  in  the  government  of  Coelo-Syria.  The  Hebrews,  it  would  seem,  were 
indulged  with  native  governors,  invested  with  full  powers  for  internal  government,  but 
subject  to  the  control  of  the  governor  of  the  satrapy.  Nehemiah  was  the  last  of  these 
governors ;  but  the  internal  administration  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  high  priests 
till  the  overthrow  of  the  Persian  empire  by  Alexander. 

Persia  is  traversed  by  the  Ai-axes,  and  a  few  other  rivers,  but  which  are  mostly  lost  in 
sandy  deserts  or  lagoons.  The  former  rises  in  the  high  ridge  of  mountains  which 
ascend  from  the  shore  of  the  Persian  Gulf.  These  mountains  inclose  some  beautiful 
broad  valleys  and  fine  plains,  wliieh  are  not  only  fertile,  but  enjoy  a  peculiarly  healthful 
atmosphere  and  a  clear  bright  sky.  In  one  of  these  valleys  are  the  remains  of  the 
palaces  and  sepulchres  of  the  ancient  monarchs  of  the  country.  The  valley  of 
Shiraz  has  been  in  every  age  celebrated  for  its  loveliness  and  fertility.  The  southern 
part  of  the  kingdom,  however,  which  lies  on  the  Erythraean  Sea,  is  a  barren  waste,  and 
almost  uninhabitable       The   m^anners  and   customs  of  the   Persians   have  but  little 

c2 


00  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

changed  during  the  lapse  of  centuries.  "At  every  step,"  says  Mr.  Morier,  "some  object, 
some  dress,  or  some  custom  of  common  life,  reminds  the  traveller  of  ancient  times,  and 
confirms,  above  all,  the  beauty,  the  accuracy,  and  the  propriety  of  the  language  and  the 
history  of  the  Bible." 

The  ancient  Persians  were  a  kind  of  infidel  idolaters.  They  had  neither  temples, 
altars,  nor  images,  nor  did  they  conceive  that  any  of  these  were  necessary,  believing 
that  the  Deity  resided  in  light  and  fire.  Hence  they  worshipped  the  sun  and  other 
heavenly  bodies ;  but  in  succeeding  ages  they  adopted  several  of  the  idolatrous 
rites  of  the  Assyi'ians  and  Chaldeans.  Zoroaster,  who,  it  has  been  conjectured, 
was  "  an  apostate  disciple  of  the  prophet  Ezekiel,"  framed  a  code  of  laws  for  the 
Persians,  and  reduced  their  worship  to  some  kind  of  system.  At  a  veiy  early  period 
of  the  Christian  era,  the  gospel  appears  to  have  been  conveyed  to  Persia  by  those 
Jewish  converts  who  were  at  Jerusalem  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  But  no  period  of  the 
history  of  this  country  can  be  pointed  out,  in  which  the  triumphs  of  the  gospel  hold 
a  distinguished  place.  On  the  contrary,  though  at  some  periods  many  Christians 
were  to  be  foimd  in  that  extensive  empire,  Persia  has  in  general  resisted  all  attempts 
made  to  spread  Christianity  among  its  inhabitants.  The  Mohammedan  imposture  has 
long  overrun  the  breadth  and  length  of  the  kingdom.* 

AFKICA. 

A  slight  notice  only  is  required  of  the  countries  on  the  west  of  Egypt,  com- 
prising the  northern  parts  of  the  continent  of  Africa. 

CusH,  or  Ethiopia  :-  -the  latter  term  is  employed  indiscriminately  in  the  Bible  for 
all  the  countries  that  sprang  from  the  posterity  of  Cush,  both  in  Africa  and  Arabia. 
The  descendants  of  Cush  were  numerous,  and  widely  spread.  Their  original 
settlements  were  in  Arabia  and  Persia;  from  thence  they  migi-ated  over  Egypt  into 
Northern  Africa.  Strabo  describes  them  as  "a  twofold  people,  lying  extended  in  a 
long  tract  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun."  Herodotus  distinguishes  the  eastern 
Ethiopians  in  Asia  from  the  western  Ethiopians  in  Africa,  by  the  straight  hair  of  the 
former  and  the  curly  hair  of  the  latter.f  Ancient  Ethiopia  included  the  countries  now 
♦called  Nubia  and  Abyssinia.  It  was  mountainous  and  well- watered ;  hence  we  read  of 
"the  rivers  of  Ethiopia,"  Isa.  xviii.  1 ;  Zeph.  iii.  10.  It  was  known  to  the  Hebrews  as 
Sheba,  or  Seba,  Isa.  xliii.  3 ;  Psa.  Ixxii.  10.  Their  present  descendants  are  the  woolly- 
headed  negroes  of  the  interior  of  that  contment.  Mr.  Faber,  however,  maintains  that 
they  are  to  be  found  also  in  both  Asia  and  Europe.  Mizraim  (Eg}^t)  and  Cush  are 
often  classed  together  by  the  prophets.  Cush,  in  2  Chron.  xxi.  16,  is  applied  to  a  part 
of  Arabia. 

Libya  was  an  extensive  district,  lying  along  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean, 
originally  the  portion  of  the  Lubim  of  the  Old  Testament,  2  Chron.  xii.  3 ;  xvi.  8 ; 
Nah.  iii.  9.  Its  capital  was  Cyi-ene,  founded  by  a  Grecian  colony,  which  gave  the  name 
of  Cyrenaica  to  the  country  in  which  it  stood.  Many  Jews  resided  here ;  among  the 
earliest  Christians  were  some  of  this  nation.  Acts  xi.  20;  xiii.  1.  The  Libyans  were 
chiefly  wanderers  of  the  desert,  or  engaged  as  mercenaries  in  the  service  of  Ethiopia 
and  Egypt.     The  wilderness  of  Sahara  is  still  known  as  the  Libyan  Desert. 

The  LuDiM  sprang  from  Lud,  the  son  of  Mizraim.  They  are  mentioned  by  several 
sacred  writers.  Isa.  Lxvi.  19  ;  Jer.  xlvi.  9 ;  Ezek.  xxvii.  ]  0 ;  xxx.  5.  In  the  great  desert 
of  Sahara  there  is  found  at  the  present  day,  a  people  called  Lud-aya. 

•  Sime's  Sacred  Geography.  t  Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopaedia. 


E?igfhy£d>i^Gov>r-  Bvuxt  S'BtdfiinLRaw. 


r 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  21 

In  glancing  the  eye  over  the  "Map  of  the  Countries  mentioned  in  the  Bible," 
mingled  feelings  of  pain  and  liope  are  awakened.  In  their  present  state,  spiritual 
ignorance  holds  almost  undisturbed  dominion.  Lands  that  v:ere  once  trodden  bv 
pious  patriarchs  and  holy  apostles  are  now  overshadowed  by  the  utter  darkness  of 
heathenism,  or  the  gross  delusion  of  Mohammedanism.  But  there  are  great  and 
glorious  promises,  which  in  their  fulfilment  shall  shed  unnumbered  blessings  on  these 
regions  of  the  earth.  The  day-spring  from  on  high  shall  visit  those  who  now  sit  in  the 
shadow  of  death.  "Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God,"  Psa.  Ixviii.  31. 
"  All  the  ends  of  the  world  shall  remember  and  turn  unto  the  Lord ;  and  all  the 
kindreds  of  the  nations  shall  worship  before  him,"  Psa.  xxii.  '27.  Then  shall  they  look 
unto  Him  who  was  once  offered  on  the  cross  for  the  sin  of  the  woi-ld,  and  in  faith  and 
love  shall  rest  on  him  alone  for  salvation,  while  they  gratefully  and  lovinglv  render  to 
him  their  undivided  allegiance  and  praise.  "All  kings  shall  bow  down  before  him :  all 
nations  shall  serve  him.  He  shall  have  dominion  also  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  tiic 
I'iver  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.  His  name  sh^U  be  continued  as  long  as  the  sun  :  aiul 
men  shaU  be  blessed  in  him;    all  nations  shall  call  him  blessed,"  Psa.  Ixxii.  8,  11,  17. 


No.  III. 


imirnrijingn  nf  tjit  Siiriirlte, 


The  joumeyings  and  subsistence  of  the  children  of  Israel,  for  forty  years  in  a  desert, 
must  be  classed  among  the  most  extraordinary  events  recorded  in  either  profane  or 
sacred  history.  Almost  eveiy  stage  of  their  route  is  marked  by  a  succession  of 
wonderful  interpositions  and  miracles,  which  exhibit  alike  the  goodness  and  forbear- 
ance of  God  towards  a  rebellious  people,  but  a  people  of  whom  he  had  sworn  unto  their 
fathers  that  he  would  bring  them  into  the  promised  land. 

The  Israelites  had  rapidly  increased  in  the  land  of  their  bondage  to  six  hundred 
thousand  men,  besides  women  and  children,  the  w^hole,  probably,  amounting  to  nearly 
two  millions.  With  urgent  haste  they  took  their  departure  from  Barneses  in  Goshen, 
the  same  as  Eaamses,  a  city  built  by  this  peoi:>le  for  Pharaoh,  Exod.  i.  11.  Some  ruins, 
about  twenty-eight  miles  from  Suez,  in  the  valley  of  Abu  Keisheid,  are  thought  to  point 
out  its  position.  Below  this  place  was  a  collection  of  waters,  the  Bitter  Lakes,  several 
miles  iij  length,  but  which  have  been  dried  up  for  many  ages.  The  Israelites  had  to 
pass  round  these  lakes  in  their  direction  to  the  northei-n  point  of  the  Bed  Sea ;  for 
"  God  led  them  not  through  the  way  of  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  although  that  was 
near ;  for  God  said,  Lest  peradventure  the  people  repent  when  they  see  war,  and  they 
return  to  Egypt :  but  God  led  the  people  about,  through  the  way  of  the  wilderness  of 
the  Bed  Sea,"  Exod.  xiii.  17,  18. 

They  encamped  the  first  night  at  Succoth,  which  signifies  "tents,"  or  "booths," 
from  its  being  a  mere  halting-place  for  caravans.  On  this  route,  at  about  twelve  miles 
N.N.E.  from  the  present  Cairo,  occurs  a  place  which  is  very  convenient  for  an  encamp- 
ment, and  where  the  ga'eat  pilgrim  caravan  to  Mecca  awaits  the  arrival  of  the  western 
pilgrims,  previous  to  its  final  departure,  and  where  it  breaks  up  on  its  return.  This 
has  been  regai'ded  as  the  Succoth  of  Scripture.     At  the  end  of  the  second  day,  they 


02  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

arrived  at  the  "  edge  of  the  wikleniess,"  at  Etham.  They  now  probably  would  have 
pursued  then-  journey  eastward,  but  they  were  commanded  to  "turn,"  or  remove, 
"  to  Pihahiroth,  between  Migdol  and  the  sea,  over  against  Baal-zephon,"  Exod.  xiv.  2 ; 
which  it  is  thought  was  a  narrow  defile,  not  far  from  the  western  shore  of  the  gulf, 
between  the  mountains  which  skirt  the  sea  and  a  small  bay  on  the  south.  They  were 
now  "entan^^led  in  the  land."  This  movement  had  the  effect  to  draw  Pharaoh  after 
them,  and  thus  to  accomplish  his  overthrow.  If  they  had  gone  straight  forward  into 
the  rocky  wilderness,  the  Egyptians  could  not  have  followed  them  with  their  chariots  ; 
but  the  design  of  God  in  thus  altering  the  line  of  their  march — and  which  route  may 
have  appeared  foolish  to  the  Egyptians — was  revealed  to  Moses,  Exod.  xiv.  17. 

The  Egyptians  came  upon  the  Israelites  as  they  were  encamped  before  the  eastern 
arm  of  the  Red  Sea.  This  sea  is  a  gulf  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  many  have  thought  that 
it  originally  connected  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Arabian  seas.  Some  geographers 
have  placed  the  miraculous  passage  at  a  narrow  part  of  the  gulf,  where  Suez  now  stands, 
which  is  less  than  a  mile  in  width,  and  is  fordable  at  low  water.  Professor  Patter 
supposes  the  place  of  passage  is  to  be  sought  higher.up  in  the  ancient  bed  of  the  sea. 
Another  position  is  pointed  out,  to  which  preference  is  to  be  given,  as  more  in 
harmony  with  the  decidedly  miraculous  character  of  the  event ;  it  is  lower  down,  some 
miles  below  Suez,  near  the  mountain  ridge  of  Atakah.  Here  the  waters,  according  to 
Bruce,  are  about  three  leagues  wide,  and  fourteen  fathoms  deep  in  the  channel.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  nearly  every  traveller  in  this  region,  that  the  extent  and  depth  of  the 
gulf  has  undergone  considerable  change  in  the  course  of  the  last  three  thousand 
years,  and  that  much  of  the  ancient  bed  has  been  filled  up  by  the  accumulations  of 
sand. 

The  Israelites  passed  through  the  sea  upon  dry  ground,  and  came  out  on  the 
eastern  side,  near  what  is  now  called  Ajun,  or,  Kas  Musa,  or  "  the  promontory  of 
Moses."  The  region  of  country  stretching  from  this  point  is  the  wilderness  of  Shiir, 
Exod.  XV.  22,  or  the  uilderness  of  Etham,  of  the  book  of  Numbers  (xxxiii.  8).  Both 
terms  apply  to  the  upper  portion  of  the  desert,  extending  from  Egypt  down  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  Bed  Sea,  and  over  to  Palestine.  Their  first  station  in  this  wilderness  was 
Marah,  or  "  bitter,"  where  the  miracle  of  rendering  bitter  water  sweet  occurred,  Exod. 
XV.  23 — 25.  The  spot  where  this  event  took  place  is  considered  to  be  the  well  of 
Howara,  near  the  barren  bed  of  a  winter  torrent,  called  Wady  Amarah,  which  is  the 
same  in  sound  and  meaning  as  Marah.  It  occurs  on  the  customaiy  road  along  the 
coast  from  Suez  to  Sinai.  Burckhardt  observes  of  the  water  of  this  well,  that  there  is 
no  other  so  absolutely  bitter  on  the  whole  coast.  Even  camels,  if  not  severely  parched 
with  thirst,  refuse  to  drink  it.  Three  days  were  occupied  in  travelling  to  this  place,  a 
distance  of  thirty-four  miles.  Their  next  station  was  Elim,  "where  were  twelve  wells  of 
water  and  threescore  and  ten  palm  trees,"  Exod.  xv.  27.  The  site  of  this  place  is  fixed 
by  Niebuhr  and  Burckhardt  in  the  vale  of  Gharendel,  which  is  the  largest  of  all  the 
torrent  beds  on  the  west  side  of  the  peninsula.  The  valley  now  contains  many  date 
trees,  tamarisks,  and  acacias  of  different  species.  Water  here  may  be  obtained  in 
abundance,  by  digging  wells;  there  is  also  a  copious  spring  with  a  small  rivulet. 
Hence  it  has  become  a  principal  watering  place  of  the  Ai-abs.  This  people  still  show  a 
spot,  held  by  them  in  gi-eat  veneration,  called  "  the  bath  of  Closes." 

The  Israelites  took  their  journey  from  Elim,  and  came  unto  the  icildcrness  of  Sin, 
"  between  Elim  and  Sinai,"  Exod.  xvi.  1,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountainous  ridge  of  El 
Tyh,  a  name  which  signifies  "the  wanderings."  JBurckhardt  describes  it  as  "a  frightful 
desert,  almost  wholly  destitute  of  vegetation."      It  was  immediately  after  they  had 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS  23 

eniered  this  desert  that  they  obtahied  the  miraculous  su[)ply  of  quails  and  of  inanna 
from  heaven.  They  had  wholly  exhausted  the  food  they  had  brought  with  them  out  of 
Egypt,  and  were  now  dependent  upon  the  direct  interposition  of  God.  Dr.  Eobinson 
and  others  suppose  that  the  Israelites  now  bore  south-eastward  into  the  Sinaitic  "•rouii 
of  mountains.  Their  entrance,  in  that  case,  would  be  through  the  broad  valley  called 
by  the  Arabs,  Wady  Feiran.  Or,  they  may  have  taken  a  nearer  course,  through  Wady 
Mukattam,  "  the  valley  of  inscriptions."  They  were  now  brought  to  Dophkah  and 
Alush,  the  sites  of  which  stations  cannot  be  fixed  with  any  degree  of  Certainty.  The 
Wady  Feiran  is  the  most  fertile  in  the  whole  region,  and  here  we  must  look  for 
Rephidim.  Much  interest  is  associated  with  this  station.  Here  the  Israelites  were,  for 
the  first  time,  attacked  by  the  Amalekites,  Exod.  xvii.  8 — 13.  Jethro,  the  father-in-law 
of  Moses,  visited  him  also  at  Rephidim,  and,  by  his  advice,  judges  were  appointed  to 
assist  the  Jewish  leader  in  his  judicial  capacity,  Exod.  xviii.  But,  chiefly,  here  amidst 
the  lofty  granite  peaks  was  the  rock  which  Moses  smote  at  the  command  of  God,  and 
from  whence  issued  a  miraculous  supply  of  water.  The  interest  of  which  fact  is 
increased,  as  the  inspired  apostle,  Paul,  refers  to  this  rock  as  a  figure  of  Christ,  from 
whom  flow  the  streams  of  salvation  and  every  blessing,  saying,  "  They  drank  of  that 
spiritual  Rock  that  followed  them  ;  and  that  Rock  was  Christ,"  1  Cor.  x.  4. 

The  next  encampment  was  in  the  desert  of  Sinai,  where  events  of  the  deepest 
importance  occurred.  Here  the  Almighty  made  known  his  will,  through  the  medium 
of  Moses,  to  the  assembled  multitude.  Here  the  decalogue  was  given,  and  the 
covenant  made,  Exod.  xx.  1 — 17;  xxiv.  7,  8.  In  this  desert,  also,  the  worship  of  the 
golden  calf  took  place  ;  the  people  were  numbered  ;  the  tabernacle  erected  ;  Aaron  and 
his  sons  consecrated ;  the  second  passover  was  celebrated  ;  and  Nadab  and  Abihu 
destroyed  for  offering  strange  fire  unto  the  Lord. 

The  mountain  from  which  the  law  was  given  is  denominated  Horeb,  in  Deutero- 
nomy ;  in  other  books  of  the  Pentateuch  it  is  called  Sinai.  These  names  are  now 
applied  to  two  opposite  summits  of  an  isolated,  oblong,  and  central  mountain  in  the 
midst  of  a  confused  group  of  mountain  heights.  It  is  about  two  miles  in  length,  from 
north  to  south,  and  about  one-third  of  this  distance  in  width.  Horeb  is  the  awful, 
frowning  cliff  at  the  northern  extremity,  which  rises  to  an  elevation  of  more  than  seven 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  A  deep,  irregular,  and  narrow  defile  sweeps 
around  the  entire  base'  of  this  oblong  mountain,  which  supports  the  heights  of  Horeb 
and  Sinai.  It  has  been  asserted  that  there  is  no  spot  in  the  Sinaitic  group  which 
agrees  with  the  description  of  the  Scripture  narrative,  and  where  so  large  a  host  could 
make  an  encampment.  Dr.  Robinson,  however,  has  satisfactorily  shown  that,  at  the 
foot  of  Horeb,  there  is  the  plain  er-Rahah,  which  amply  meets  all  the  requirements 
of  the  history.  "  Here,"  says  this  learned  traveller  and  critic,  "  was  space  enough 
to  satisfy  all  the  requisitions  of  the  scriptural  narrative,  so  far  as  relates  to  the 
assembhng  of  the  congregation  to  receive  the  law.  Here,  too,  one  can  see  the  fitness 
of  the  injunction,  to  set  bounds  around  the  mountain,  that  neither  man  nor  beast 
might  approach  too  near."  Again,  he  observes,  "  The  whole  plain  lay  spread  out 
beneath  our  feet,  with  the  adjacent  wadys  and  mountains  ;  while  Wady  Esh-Sheikh,  on 
the  right,  and  the  recess  on  the  left,  both  connected  with  and  opening  broadly  fiom 
er-Rahah,  presented  an  area  which  serves  nearly  to  double  that  of  the  plain.  Our 
conviction  was  strengthened  that  here,  or  on  some  of  the  adjacent  plains,  was  the  spot 
where  the  Lord  '  descended  in  fire,'  and  proclaimed  the  law.  We  gave  ourselves  up  to 
the  impressions  of  the  awful  scene ;  and  read,  with  a  feeling  of  awe  that  will  never 
be  forgotten,  the  sublime   account  of  the  transaction,  and  the   commandments  there 


^1  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

promulgated,  in  the  original  Avords  as  recorded  by  the  great  Hebrew  legislator."* 
Other  travellers  have  explored  a  valley  on  the  southern  base  of  Sinai,  which  was  shut 
from  the  view  of  Dr.  Eobinson,  in  his  ascent,  by  a  long  ridge  of  rocks,  and  which  has 
been  found  to  be  even  greater  than  the  valley  of  er-Eahah  on  the  north.  This,  it  is 
supposed  by  Eitter  and  others,  may  have  been  occupied  by  the  Israelites  at  the  giving 
of  the  law.  Another  mountain,  known  as  the  Serbal,  separated  from  the  Sinaitic 
group,  has  been  selected  by  Lepsius  and  Bartlett,  as  the  locality  of  the  "mount  of  God."t 
Whichever  view  we  adopt,  the  truthfulness  of  the  Scripture  narrative  is  vindicated. 

In  the  desert  of  Sinai  the  Israelites  abode  for  rather  less  than  one  year,  when 
the  signal  for  them  to  go  forward  again  appeared.  Their  marchings  and  encamp- 
ments in  all  their  subsequent  wanderings  were  directed  by  Jehovah,  their  King. 
A  cloud,  in  token  of  his  presence,  covered  the  tabernacle  by  day,  and  "  at  even 
there  was  upon  the  tabernacle  as  it  were  the  appearance  of  fire  until  the  morning," 
Numb.  ix.  15,  16.  The  rising  of  this  cloud  was  the  signal  for  them  to  advance, 
as  it,  overhanging  the  tabernacle,  should  lead  the  way ;  and  the  settling  of  the 
cloud  upon  the  tabernacle  was  the  signal  for  them  again  to  encamp. 

Doctors  Wilson  and  Eobinson  suppose  the  Israelites  to  have  come  through  a 
wide  avenue  of  the  Sinaitic  group,  known  as  Wady  Esh-Sheikh,  near  their  former 
encampment  at  Eephidim.  This  would  bring  them  into  a  large  plain  called  El 
Hadharah,  somewhere  in  which  was  Taherah,  or  burnings,  a  name  given  to  it 
from  the  destruction  by  fire  from  heaven,  which  came  upon  the  people  for  their 
complainings,  Numb.  x.  12  ;  xi.  1 — 3.  Their  next  station  was  Eibroth-hattaavah,  or 
"  the  grave  of  lusts  ;"  for  here  the  people  lusted  for  flesh,  and  were  smitten  with 
death  while  their  food  was  in  their  mouths,  Numb.  xi.  34 ;  xxxiii.  16.  Dr.  Wilson, 
in  his  graphic  description  of  this  part  of  the  desert  says,  "  It  seemed  to  us,  by  its 
slopes,  and  precipices,  and  hollows,  and  caverns,  to  be  a  striking  illustration — 
as  we  often  noticed  among  the  ravines  of  the  wilderness — of  the  text  in  which  the 
Israelites  are  said  to  have  been  led  '  through  a  land  of  deserts  and  of  pits,'  Jer.  ii.  6. 
Bartlett,  also,  in  describing  this  part  of  the  desert,  says,  "  It  is  impossible  to  convey 
any  idea  of  the  feeling  of  utter  weariness  that  grows  upon  the  solitary  wanderer, 
as  day  by  day  he  penetrates  further  into  the  heart  of  this  great  and  terrible  wilder- 
ness :  as  ravine  succeeds  to  ravine,  each  more  forsaken  and  desolate  than  the  last, 
with  its  bed  of  sand  or  gravel,  overhung  with  mountains,  which,  in  their  convulsed 
forms,  their  bald  and  awful  abruptness,  their  arid  colouring  of  brown,  black,  white, 
red,  and  yellow,  ever  glaring  under  the  same  fiery  sun,  seem  like  a  portion  of  some 
early  world  untenanted  by  man — some  blasted  planet  visited  in  the  wildness  of  our 
dreams,  where  human  foot  has  never  trodden,  and  human  life  has  neither  object 
nor  subsistence.  The  mind  falls  back  upon  itself,  and  delights  to  recall  the  events, 
in  all  their  vividness,  of  that  early  period  when  the  Israelitish  host  threaded  these 
weary  defiles — to  represent  to  itself  every  incident  of  their  toilsome  march,  and 
the  feeling  of  horror  and  amazement  that  must  have  daunted  their  spirits,  as  they 
felt  them.selves  transported  from  verdant  Egypt  into  the  heart  of  such  a  solitude."]: 

From  Kabroth  the  Israelites  came  to  Hazeroth,  at  which  place  the  sedition  of 
Miriam  and  Aaron  occurred.  Numb.  xii.  Eobinson,  after  Burckhardt,  places  Hazeroth 
at    a   spot   now   called    el   Hudhera,  where  is  a  fountain,  together   with   palm-trees. 

*  Biblical  Researches,  i.  129,  130,  158. 

t  See  the  groiuids  on  which  they  rest  their  decision,  in  Bartlett's  Forty  Days  in  the  Desert,  pp. 
55—60. 

X  Forty  Days  in  the  Desert  on  the  Track  of  the  Israelites,  p.  50. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  25 

"The  determination  of  this  point,"  says  Robinson,  "is  perhaps  of  more  importance 
in  biblical  history  than  would  at  first  appear ;  for  if  this  position  be  adopted  for 
Hazeroth,  it  settles  at  once  the  question  as  to  the  whole  route  of  the  Israelites 
between  Sinai  and  Kadesh.  It  shows  that  they  must  have  followed  the  route  upon 
which  we  now  were  to  the  sea,  and  so  along  the  coast  to  Akabah,  (at  the  head  of 
the  eastern  arm  of  the  Red  Sea,)  and  thence,  probably,  through  the  great  Wady-el- 
Arabah  to  Kadesh.  Indeed,  such  is  the  nature  of  the  country,  that  having  once 
arrived  at  this  fountain,  they  could  not  well  have  varied  their  course  so  as  to  have 
kept  aloof  from  the  sea,  and  continued  along  the  high  plateau  of  the  eastern  desert." 
Dr.  Wilson,  whose  views  are  adopted  by  Keipert,  supposes  the  Israelites  to  have 
gone  through  one  of  two  passes  at  the  head  of  the  mountains  now  known  as  Jebel 
Shakeirah,  which  would  bring  them  at  once  upon  that  "  great  and  terrible  wilder- 
ness," in  which  the  universal  tradition  of  Jews,  Christians,  and  Mohammedans  has 
placed  their  journey  to  Kadesh-barnea.  This  route,  he  contends,  would  admit  of 
the  orderly  pitching  of  their  camp,  according  to  the  Divine  directions,  and  free  them 
from  many  difficulties  which  the  narrow  coast  road  presents. 

Their  stations  in  this  part  of  the  desert  were  Rithmah,  Rimmon-parez,  Libnah, 
and  Kadesh-barnea;  the  latter  place  they  probably  reached  about  June.  As  they 
were  now  not  far  from  the  borders  of  the  promised  land,  spies  were  sent  out  to 
examine  it,  from  whose  evil  report  the  people  were  so  intimidated,  and  so  unmindful 
of  the  promises  they  had  received,  and  the  Divine  protection  they  were  under, 
that  they  rebelled ;  for  which  they  were  sentenced  to  wander  in  the  wilderness 
forty  years.  The  pass  up  which  the  Israelites,  after  this  sentence,  rashly  ascended 
to  fight  with  the  Amalekites  and  Canaanites,  Numb.  xiv.  40 — 45,  is  extremely  steep 
and  difficult.  The  remains  of  an  ancient  road,  formed  of  steps  hewn  in  the  rocks, 
ai'e  perceptible  in  many  places,  with  ruins  of  a  fortification  at  the  foot  and  at  the 
summit.     The  pathway  is  in  a  zigzag  direction,  and  much  worn.* 

The  exact  site  of  Kadesh  cannot  perhaps  be  defined.  Dr.  Robinson  conjectures 
that  it  may  have  been  at  Ain  el  Weibah,  a  fountain  at  the  mouth  of  a  deep  valley, 
leading  up  through  the  mountains  to  the  high  western  desert  south  of  Hebron.  It 
certainly  lay  near  the  mountains  of  the  Amorites. 

The  narrative  in  the  early  part  of  the  book  of  Numbers  goes  at  once  from 
Hazeroth  to  Kadesh ;  while  the  second  account  in  the  same  book  mentions  other 
places,  but  which  seem  properly  to  belong  to  a  second  route,  and  a  second  visit 
to  Kadesh.  Dr.  Robinson  harmonizes  this  period  of  the  wanderings  of  the  Israelites 
thus  :  "I  have  thus  far  assumed  that  the  Israelites  were  twice  at  Kadesh ;  and  this 
appears  from  a  comparison  of  the  various  accounts.  They  broke  up  from  Sinai 
on  the  twentieth  day  of  the  second  month,  in  the  second  year  of  their  departure 
out  of  Egypt,  corresponding  to  the  early  part  of  May  :  they  came  into  the  desert 
of  Paran,  whence  spies  were  sent  up  the  mountain  into  Palestine,  '  in  the  time  of 
the  first  ripe  'grapes  ;'  and  these  returned  after  forty  days  to  the  camp  at  Kadesh. 
As  grapes  begin  to  ripen  on  the  mountains  of  Judea  in  July,  the  return  of  the  spies 
is  to  be  placed  in  August  or  September.  The  people  now  murmured  at  the  report 
of  the  spies,  and  received  the  sentence  from  Jehovah  that  their  carcasses  should 
fall  in  the  wilderness,  and  their  children  wander  in  the  desert  forty  years.  They 
were  ordered  to  turn  back  into  the  desert  '  by  the  way  of  the  Red  Sea,'  although 
it  appears  they  abode  '  many  days'  in  Kadesh.  The  next  notice  of  the  Israelites 
is,  that  in  the  first  month  they  came  into  the  desert  of  Sin,  and  abode  again  at 
*  Coleman's  Historical  Geography  of  the  Bible. 


20  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Kadesh.  Here  INIiriam  dies  ;  Moses  and  Aaron  bring  water  from  the  rock  ;  a  passage 
is  demanded  through  the  land  of  Edom,  and  refused  ;  and  tliey  then  journeyed  from 
Kadesh  to  Mount  Hor,  where  Aaron  dies  in  the  fortieth  year  of  the  departure  from 
Eg}-pt,  in  the  first  day  of  the  fifth  month,  corresponding  to  a  part  of  August  and 
September.  Here,  then,  between  August  of  the  second  year  and  August  of  the  fortieth 
year,  we  have  an  interval  of  thirty-eight  years  of  wandering  in  the  desert."*  In 
this  way  the  scriptural  account  of  the  journeyings  of  the  Israelites  becomes  pei-fectly 
harmonious  and  intelligible.  The  eighteen  stations  mentioned  only  in  the  general 
list  in  the  book  of  Numbers,  as  preceding  the  arrival  at  Kadesh,  are  then  appa- 
rently to  be  referred  to  this  eight-and-thirty  years  of  wandering,  during  which  the 
people  at  last  approached  Ezion-ijeher,  and  afterwards  returned  northwards  a  second 
time  to  Kadesh,  in  the  hope  of  passing  directly  through  the  land  of  Edom.  Their 
wanderings  extended,  doubtless,  over  the  western  desert,  although  the  stations  named 
are  probably  only  those  head-quarters  where  the  tabernacle  was  pitched,  arid  where 
Moses  and  the  elders  and  priests  encamped ;  while  the  main  body  of  the  people 
were  scattered  in  various  directions.!  The  events  of  this  long  intervening  period 
may  have  been  of  little  interest,  being  filled  up  with  the  ordinary  incidents  of 
pastoral  life.  Dr.  Barth  considers  that  the  tabernacle  and  principal  encampment 
remained  at  Ezion-geber  for  thirty-eight  years,  while  the  people  wandered  through 
Arabia  Petrasa  in  search  of  pasturage.  | 

In  the  retrograde  movement  of  the  Israelites  from  Kadesh-barnea,  after  their  second 
visit,  they  probably  passed  down  the  Wady  Arabah,  a  deeply  depressed  valley,  which  has 
evidently  been  formed  by  some  great  convulsion  to  which  the  earth's  surface  has  been 
subject  at  a  very  remote  period.  (See  Physical  Map  of  Palestine,  No.  IX.)  On  tlieir 
way  they  came  to  Mount  Hor,  near  Petra,  where  Aaron  died — a  mount  which  is  "  the 
veiy  throne  of  desolation  itself,"  consisting  of  "  broken,  shattered,  and  frowning 
heights,  ruin  piled  upon  ruin,  and  dark  and  devouring  depth  added  unto  dei)th  '"§ 
The  Arabs  still  call  it  Jebel  Neby  Hauran,  that  is,  "  the  mountain  of  the  prophet 
Aaron ;"  and  to  the  present  day,  when  an  eastern  caravan  comes  in  sight  of  its  summit, 
a  lamb  is  sacrificed  to  his  memory.  Arriving  again  at  Ezion-geber,  the  people  turned 
at  the  head  of  the  eastern,  or  Elanitic  Gulf  of  the  Eed  Sea,  to  enter  on  the  great 
eastern  desert  of  Arabia.  At  this  place  a  large  defile  comes  down  steeply  from  the 
north-east,  through  the  mountains,  forming  the  main  passage  out  of  the  Wady 
Arabah  into  the  desert.  Tlie  ascent  of  the  Israelites  was,  doubtless,  through  this  pass, 
when  they  departed  from  the  Red  Sea,  and  turned  to  "  compass  Edom." 

At  this  point  of  their  wanderings  the  people  were  "  much  discouraged  because  of 
the  way,"  and  murmured  against  God  and  his  servant  Moses.  As  a  punishment,  fiery 
flying  seqoents  were  sent  among  them,  and  many  died;  but  at  the  command  of 
Jehovah,  a  brazen  serpent  was  raised,  and  those  who  looked  in  faith  were  cured.  This 
provision  of  mercy  is  referred  to,  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  an  emblem  of  his  great 
work  of  saving  sinners.  "  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wild^'ness,  even  so 
must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  :  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  eternal  life,"  John  iii.  14,  15. 

They  again  pursued  their  journey  along  the  eastern  sides  of  the  mountains  of  Seir. 
The  Edomites,  who  had  refused  them  a  passage  through  tlieir  land,  now  suffered  them 

*  Biblical  Rescarclics,  ii.  Gil. 

t  Ilobiiison's  Biblical  Researches  ;    Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopaedia. 

X  Biblical  Geography. 

§  Dr.  "Wilson's  Lands  of  the  Bible. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  27 

to  pass  unmolested  along  their  bordei'S,  and  even  supplied  them  with  provisions  for 
their  march,  Deut.  ii.  3—6.  Nothing  is  known  of  their  halting  places  until  they 
come  to  Zared,  or  "  the  brook,"  a  small  stream  which  flows  through  the  mountains 
into  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Dead  Sea.  They  next  "  removed,  and  pitched  on 
the  other  side  of  Arnon,  which  is  in  the  border  of  Moab,  between  Moab  and  the 
Amorites,"  Numb.  xxi.  13.  This  brought  them  to  Beer,  or  Beer-elim,  "the  well  of 
the  princes  ;"  where,  finding  that  they  were  now  nearly  at  the  end  of  the  wilderness, 
and  in  prospect  of  a  speedy  entrance  into  the  promised  land,  they  broke  forth  into 
the  "song  of  the  well,"  Numb.  xxi.  17,  18. 

The  Israelites  next  successfully  encountered  a  formidable  foe  in  Sihon,  king  of  the 
Amorites,  who  dwelt  at  Heshbon,  and  whose  territories  extended  along  the  shores  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  and  up  the  valley  east  of  the  Jordan  to  the  river  Jabbok.  A  few  broken 
pillars,  several  large  cisterns  and  wells,  together  with  extensive  ruins,  still  mark  the 
situation  of  Heshbon,  twenty-one  miles  east  of  the  mouth  of  the  Jordan.  These  ruins 
overspread  a  high  hill,  commanding  a  wild  and  desolate  scenery  on  every  side.  Tlie 
next  conquests  of  the  Israelites  were  over  Og,  who  ruled  in  the  territories  east  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee,  and  the  north-eastern  portion  of  the  valley  of  the  Jordan. 

These  conquered  lands  and  "cities  of  the  plain,"  being  fit  for  pasturage,  were 
allotted,  at  their  own  request,  to  the  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  and  the  half-tribe  of 
Manasseh,  who  had  much  cattle,  on  the  condition  of  their  assisting  the  other  tribes  in 
the  conquest  of  the  promised  land  westward  of  Jordan,  Numb,  xxxii.;  Deut.  iii.  8 — 20. 
It  was  from  hence  the  next  station  was  called  Dibon-Gad,  in  order  to  distinguish  it 
from  another  Dibon  belonging  to  the  Reubenites,  Josh.  xiii.  17.  The  ruins  of  this 
place,  under  the  name  of  Diban,  are  shown  about  four  miles  north  of  the  river  Araon. 
Thence  they  passed  to  Almon  Dlblathaim,  or  Diblath,  on  the  edge  of  the  wilderness  of 
Kedemoth,  from  whence  they  proceeded  to  Mattanah,  Nahaliel,  and  Bamoth,  in  the  valley 
belonging  to  Moab,  which  brought  them  again  near  to  the  mountains  of  Abarim,  on  the 
east  of  the  Jordan.  They  now  took  up  their  final  station  at  Betlqjeor,  over  against 
Jericho.  Thus  ended  a  journey  of  forty  years,  chiefly  through  deserts,  which  might  have 
been  accomplished  in  a  few  weeks.  The  direct  route  from  Eg}'pt  to  Palestine,  through 
the  desert,  is  now  performed  in  omnibuses,  and  occupies  only  two  or  three  days. 

The  Moabites,  once  a  powerful  people  on  the  east  of  Jordan  and  the  Dead  Sea,  had 
been  driven  south  by  the  Amorites  from  the  plains  of  Moab,  and  were  at  this  time 
confined  within  narrow  limits  between  the  streams  Zared  and  Ai-non.  They  seem  to 
have  been  too  feeble  to  offer  resistance  to  the  Israelites,  the  males  of  whom  were 
now  chiefly  young,  or  in  middle  life,  and  inured  to  hardship.  Unable  to  resist  their 
progress,  and  discouraged  at  the  discomfiture  of  the  Amorites  and  Bashanites,  they 
invited  Balaam  to  curse  Israel.  But  their  efforts  to  prevail  by  enchantment  were 
unsuccessful,  and  they  had  recourse  to  temptations.  In  this  they  succeeded,  and  the 
people  of  Israel  were  seduced  into  impurity  and  idolatry.  As  a  punishment,  a  terrible 
plague  and  the  sword  of  vengeance  cut  off  twenty-four  thousand  of  them,  even  within 
sight  of  their  promised  rest.  Moses  now,  by  Divine  command,  took  the  census  of  the 
people  from  twenty  years  old  and  upwards,  and  found  they  amounted  to  600,730,  among 
whom  there  was  not  one  whom  Moses  and  Aaron  had  numbered  in  the  wilderness  of 
Sinai,  except  Joshua  and  Caleb,  Numb.  xxvi.  65. 

The  work  and  pilgrimage  of  Moses  were  now  at  an  end.  He  had  brought  the 
people,  through  perils  and  foes,  to  the  borders  of  the  long-desired  land.  Nothing  was 
more  natural  than  that  he  should  earnestly  desire  to  pass  over,  and  see  it  before  he 
died.      But  he  yields  submissively   to  the  will   of  God.       He  is   directed   to    ascend 


28  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Mount  Nebo,  or  Pisgah,  in  order  that  he  might  "behold  the  goodly  land,"  and  then 
lie  down  and  die  From  the  summit  a  large  tract  of  Canaan  was  before  his  view. 
On  the  right  lay  the  mountain-pastures  of  Gilead,  and  the  romantic  district  of  Bashan ; 
the  windings  of  Jordan  might  be  traced  along  its  broad  and  level  valley,  till  almost 
beneath  his  feet  it  flowed  into  the  Dead  Sea  To  the  north  spread  the  luxuriant 
plains  of  Esdraelon  and  the  more  hilly  yet  fruitful  country  of  Galilee.  Right  opposite 
stood  the  city  of  Jericho,  embowered  in  its  groves  of  palms  — beyond  it,  the  mountains 
of  Judea,  rising  above  each  other  till  they  reached  the  sea  Gazing  on  this  magnificent 
prospect,  beholding  in  prophetic  anticipation  his  great  and  happy  commonwealth, 
occupying  its  numerous  toA\iis  and  blooming  fields,  Moses  breathed  his  last.  The 
place  of  his  burial  was  unknown,  lest,  perhaps,  his  followers  might  be  tempted  to 
ascribe  Divine  honours  to  his  name,  and  assemble  to  worship  at  his  sepulchre.  But 
though  Moses  was  denied  an  entrance  into  the  earthly  Canaan,  the  people  of  Israel, 
according  to  the  faithful  promise  of  God,  were  led  down  to  the  banks  of  the  Jordan, 
and  by  his  almighty  power  the  waters  were  divided,  and  the  people  passed  over  "  right 
against  Jericho." 

In  these  wanderings  of  an  ancient  favoured  race,  the  true  believer  may  see  various 
resemblances  to  his  own  pilgrimage  through  the  earthly  wilderness  to  the  heavenly 
Canaan.  And  as  the  Lord  fulfilled  his  promise  of  old  time,  so  surely  will  he  guide, 
protect,  and  finally  bring  all  true  believers  to  the  rest  of  heaven. 

The  Map  of  the  Joumeyings  of  the  Children  of  Israel  has  been  accurately  reduced 
by  Keipert,  the  learned  German  geogi-apher,  from  material  furnished  by  Professor 
Robinson.  The  names  of  many  of  the  stations  are  not  given  in  the  plate,  as  their 
position  would  be  merely  matter  of  arbitrary  conjecture.  Dr.  Robinson*  has  given  a 
tabular  view  of  the  stations,  harmonizing  the  enumeration  of  the  books  of  Exodus, 
Numbers,  and  Deuteronomy,  which  may  be  hei-e  appropriately  given. 

1.  From  Egypt  to  Sinai. 

Exodus  xii. — xix.  Niunbers  xxxiii. 

From  Rameses,  xii.  37.  From  Eameses,  ver.  3. 

1.  Succoth,  xii.  37.  '     Succoth,  5. 

2.  Etham,  xiii.  20.  Etham,  6. 

3.  Pi-hahiroth,  xiv.  2.  Pi-hahiroth,  7. 

4.  Passage  through  the  Red  Sea,  xiv.  22 ;         Passage  through  the  Red  Sea,  and  three 

and  three  days'  march  into  the  de-  days'  march  ia  the- desert  of  Etham,  8. 

sert  of  Shui-,  xv.  22. 

5.  Marah,  xv.  23.  Maxah,  8. 

6.  Elim,  XV.  27.  Elim,  9. 

7.  Encampment  by  the  Red  Sea,  10. 

8.  Desert  of  Sin,  xvi.  1.  Desert  of  Sm,  11. 

9.  DopKkah,  12. 

10.  Alush,  13. 

11.  Rephidim,  xvii.  1.  Rephidim,  14. 

12.  Desert  of  Sinai,  xix.  1.  Desert  of  Sinai,  15. 

2.  From  Sinai  to  Kadesh,  the  second  time. 
Numb.  x. — XX.  Numb,  xxxiii. 

From  the  Desert  of  Sinai,  x.  12.  From  the  Desert  of  Sinai,  ver.  16. 

13.  Taberah,  xi.  3  ;  Deut.  ix.  22. 

14.  Kibroth-hattaavah,  xi.  34.  Kibroth-hattaavah,  16. 

15.  Hazuroth,  xi.  35.  Hazeroth,  17. 

*  Biblical  Researches,  ii.  678. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.                                           29 

16. 

Kadesh,  in  the  Desert  of  Paran,  xii. 
16;  xiii.  26  ;  Deut.  i.  2,  19  ;  hence 
they  turn  back  and  wander  for  thirty- 
eight  years,  Numb.  xiv.  25,  seq. 

17, 

Rithmah,  18. 

18. 

Rimmon-parez,  19- 

19. 

Libnah,  20. 

20. 

Rissah,  21. 

21. 

Kchelathah,  22. 

22. 

Mount  Shapher,  20. 

23. 

Haradeh,  24. 

24. 

Makheloth,  25. 

25. 

Tahath,  26. 

26. 

Tarah,  27. 

27. 

Mitheah,  28. 

28. 

Hashmonah,  29. 

29. 

Moseroth,  30. 

30. 

Bene-jaakan,  31. 

31. 

Hor-hagidgad,  32. 

32. 

Jotbathah,  33. 

33. 

Ebronah,  34. 

34. 

Ezion-geber,  35. 

35. 

Return  to  Kadesh,  Numb.  xx.  1. 

Kadesh,  36. 

3.  From  Kadesh  to  the  Jordan, 

Numb.  XX.  xxi.  ;  Deut.  i.  ii.  x. 

Numb,  xxxiii. 

From  Kadesh,  Numb.  xx.  22. 

From  Kadesh,  ver,  37. 

36. 

Beeroth,  Bene-jaakan,  Deut.  x.  6. 

37. 

Mount  Hor,  Numb.  xx.  22 ;  or  Mosera, 
Deut.  X.  6,  where  Aaron  died. 

Mount  Hor,  37. 

38. 

Gudgodah,  Deut.  x.  7. 

39. 

Jotbath,  Deut.  x.  7. 

40. 

Way  of  the  Red  Sea,  Numb.  xxi.  4 ; 
by  Elath  and  Ezion-geber,  Deut. 
ii.  8. 

41. 

Zalmonah,  41. 

42. 

Pimon,  42. 

43. 

Oboth,  Numb.  xxi.  10. 

Oboth,  43. 

44. 

Ije-abarim,  Numb.  xxi.  11. 

Ije-abarim,  or  lim,  44,  46. 

45. 

The  brook    Zared,    Numb.   xxi.    12; 
Deut.  ii.  13,  14. 

./ 

46. 

The  brook  Arnon,  Numb.  xxi.   13  ; 
Deut.  ii.  24. 

47. 

Dibon-gad,  45. 

48. 

Abnon-diblathaim,  46. 

49. 

Beer  in  the  desert,  Nxunb.  xxi.  16,  18. 

50. 

Mattanah,  xxi.  18. 

51. 

Nahaliel,  xxi.  19. 

52. 

Bamoth,  xxi.  19. 

53. 

Pisgah,  put  for  the  range  of  Abarim, 
of  which  Pisgah  was  part.  Numb. 
xxi.  20. 

Mountains  of  Abarim,  near  to  Nebo,  47. 

54. 

By  the  way  of  Bashan  to  the  plains 
of  Moab  by  Jordan,  near  Jericho, 

Plains  of  Moab  by  Jordan,  near  Jericho,  48. 

Niunb.  xxi.  33  ;  xxii.  1. 

!}0  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


No.  IV. 

Cannnii  m  WM  nmnng  tlje  €mlm  €x\\\m. 

FROM  THE  TIME  OF  JOSHUA  TO  THE  ACCESSION  OF  DAVID. 

The  Israelites  reached  the  land  promised  to  Abraham  their  father  (Gen.  xii.  0,  7] 
about  B.C.,  1451.  It  was  at  that  time  known  as  the  land  of  Canaan,  a  name  derived 
from  its  original  settler,  the  fom-th  son  of  Ham,  Gen.  x.  15 — 19.  This  region  of 
country,  so  inconsiderable  in  its  physical  condition,  and  yet  so  famous  in  the  history  of 
tlie  world,  is,  in  its  extreme  length,  only  about  180  miles  from  north-east  to  south-west. 
The  width  in  the  south  is  eighty  or  ninety  miles,  which  tapers  towards  the  north, 
where  it  scai'cely  exceeds  twenty  miles.  Its  boundaries  varied  at  different  times  ;  but 
in  general  terms  they  may  be  described  as  the  mountains  of  the  Lebanon  on  the  north, 
the  Great,  or  Mediterranean  Sea  on  the  west,  Arabia  on  the  east,  and  the  Desert  of 
Sin  and  the  Dead  Sea  on  the  south.  The  entire  boundaries,  as  given  by  Moses, 
(Numb,  xxxiv.  2  — 12)  and  Joshua,  (xiii.  15 — 31)  are  not  easily  identified  at  the 
present  day. 

Canaan  was  inhabited  by  several  warlike  tribes,  upon  whom  the  curse  of  God  rested 
for  their  idolatry  and  grievous  sins.  The  Amorites  chiefly  inhabited  around  the  south- 
western shores  of  the  Dead  Sea.  The  Hittites  abode  in  the  south,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Hebron;  the  Jebusites  possessed  the  mountains  of  Jerusalem  and  the  vicinity; 
the  Girgashites  are  supposed  to  have  dwelt  near  the  Jordan  ;  the  Hivites,  in  the  north, 
about  mount  Hermon  ;  and  the  Perizzites  south  of  the  plain  of  Esdraelou.  The 
descendants  of  six  other  of  the  sons  of  Canaan  were  the  Sidonians,  Arkites,  Arvadites, 
Sinites,  Zemarites,  and  Hemathites,  who  settled  on  Mount  Lebanon  and  the  regions 
east  and  west  of  it.  The  Sidonians,  called  by  the  Greeks,  Phoenicians,  were  by  far  the 
largest  division  of  this  people,  and  under  this  name  all  the  northern  tribes  were 
sometimes  included.  The  Philistines,  also,  had  settled  in  the  land,  and  became 
numerous  and  powerful.  They  wei^e  the  descendants  of  Mizraim,  the  second  son  of 
Ham.  Besides  these,  there  were  the  Rephaim  and  the  Anakim  :  the  latter  were  a  race 
of  gigantic  highlanders,  residing  in  the  northern  and  southern  mountains.  A  few  of 
their  families  existed  in  the  land  so  late  as  the  time  of  David,  2  Sam.  xxi.  16. 

The  term  Canaanites,  which  signifies  "  merchants,"  was  sometimes  confined  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  north-western  coast,  who,  from  their  maritime  position  and 
enterprise,  had  distinguished  themselves  in  such  arts  of  commerce  as  were  known 
in  the  early  ages.  It,  however,  was  more  indiscriminately  applied  to  the  whole  of 
the  tribes  inhabiting  the  country  lying  between  the  31st  and  34th  degi'ees  of  north 
latitude.  The  name  Perizzites,  or,  "villagers,"  belonged  to  those  who  lived  in  the 
interior  of  the  land.  The  united  terms  of  Canaanites  and  Perizzites  sometimes 
included  the  people  of  the  whole  country.  Gen.  xiii.  7  ;  xxxiv.  30. 

"  The  land  of  Canaan  was  in  every  way  most  suitable  for  the  Israelites.  The 
mountains  and  the  sea,  by  which  it  was  in  eveiy  part  inclosed,  rendered  it  easy 
of  defence  against  all  invasion.  It  abounded  in  corn,  oil,  and  fruit — in  all  productions 
and  capabilities  essential  to  settled  life.  Besides,  this  was  the  land  which  attached  to 
itself  all  the  memories  capable  of  exciting  the  enthusiasm  of  such  a  people  as  the 
Hebrews.     It  was  the  cradle  of  their  race      It  was  their  historical  land — the  laud  in 


Dra-wn  fcEng^'byE-Gavar. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  81 

whicli  their  renowned  forefathers  fed  their  flocks  for  more  than  two  hundred  years,  and 
whicli  was  still  the  country  of  their  fathers'  sepulchres.'"*  But  they  entered  the  land 
as  the  ministers  of  the  Divine  justice,  to  remove  its  debased  inhabitants  either  by  death 
or  expulsion.  The  patriarchs  had  been  told  by  God,  that  "  the  iniquity  of  the 
Canaanites  was  not  yet  fuU."  At  length  it  was  filled  to  the  brim  ;  and  the  escaped 
captives  from  Egypt  were  commissioned  by  the  God  of  nations  to  execute  his  judg- 
ments upon  the  guilty  inhabitants,  and  to  possess  their  covmtiy 

Joshua,  the  Divinely  appointed  leader  of  the  Israelites,  in  his  first  campai<Tn, 
reduced  all  the  open  country,  and  several  of  the  towns  in  the  southern  division  of  the 
Land  of  Promise.  The  northern  powers,  as  far  as  great  Sidon  and  the  valley  of 
Mizpeh  eastwards,  except  some  fenced  cities  of  the  Philistines,  next  fell  into  his  hands. 
In  the  sixth  year,  the  first  division  of  the  lands  took  place,  when  the  tribes  of  Judah, 
Ephraim,  and  half  Manasseh,  obtained  their  portions.  These,  added  to  the  eastern 
tribes  of  Reuben,  Gad,  and  half  Manasseh,  settled  in  the  lands  of  the  Amorites, 
Midianites,  and  Moabites,  completed  the  settlement  of  five  tribes.  After  this,  the 
Israelites  appear  to  have  grown  remiss  in  their  exertions  to  take  possession  of  the 
country,  for  Joshua  thus  reproved  them  :  "  How  long  are  ye  slack  to  go  to  possess  the 
land,  which  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers  hath  given  you?"  Josh,  xviii.  3.  Thus 
stimulated,  they  renewed  their  conquests  ;  and,  finally,  the  seven  remaining  tribes 
obtained  their  allotments,  as  minutely  described  in  the  18th  and  19th  chapters  of 
Joshua.  After  the  first  division  of  the  portions  of  Judah,  Ephraim,  and  the  half  tribe  of 
Manasseh,  it  was  found  that  there  would  not  be  enough  remaining  for  a  just  allotment 
to  the  other  tribes.  The  boundaries  of  the  two  first-named  were  accordingly  reduced 
by  giving  to  Dan,  Simeon,  and  Benjamin  their  portion  from  the  original  grant  to  Judah 
and  Ephraim.  Several  years,  however,  elapsed,  before  the  territory  and  boundaries  of 
the  tribes  were  determinately  settled.  The  division  thus  established,  continued  to  be 
the  only  one  known  to  the  Israelites  for  upwards  of  five  hundred  years,  until  after  the 
death  of  Saul.  It  must  not  be  supposed,  howoA^er,  that  they  obtained  entire  possession 
of  the  land.  On  the  contrary,  a  large  portion  of  their  early  history  is  filled  up  with 
their  conflicts  with  those  who  remained  of  the  previous  proprietors,  more  especially 
the  Philistines,  who  remained  in  possession  of  their  five  lordships,  namely,  Gaza, 
Ashdod,  Askalon,  Gath,  and  Ekron,  Josh.  xiii.  3.  According  to  tradition,  many  of  the 
Canaanites,  driven  from  their  country,  fled  into  North  Africa,  beyond  Lybia,  and  even 
into  xibyssinia. 

The  relative  situation  of  the  tribes  will  be  seen  on  the  Map.  The  children  of 
Joseph  were  divided  into  two  tribes.  Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  his  eldest  sons,  who  were 
adopted  by  Jacob  and  were  therefore  admitted  to  equal  rights  with  his  own  children. 
The  tribes  of  Levi,  being  selected  for  the  immediate  service  of  God,  possessed  no 
division  of  the  land.  Thus  the  number  of  the  tribes  was  twelve  at  this  settlement  in 
their  new  country. 

According  to  the  Divine  command,  the  land  was  apportioned  by  lot,  and  according 
to  the  relative  number  and  strength  of  each  tribe. 

Levi,  as  just  stated,  possessed  no  territorial  inheritance  in  the  land ;  but  each  of 
the  tribes,  according  to  its  size,  gave  to  the  Levites  some  of  their  cities,  together  with 
the  suburbs  thereof  (extending  1000  cubits  from  the  walls  each  way),  for  their  cattle, 
Numb.  XXXV,  2 — 7 ;  Josh.  xiv.  3,  4.  Hence  they  were  called  Levitical  cities  :  they  were 
in  number  forty-eight.  The  house  of  Aaron,  or  the  priests,  as  the  most  eminent  of  all 
the  families  of  the  Levites,  had  their  cities  in  the  tribes  of  Judali  and  Benjamin      To 

*  Kitto's  History  of  Palestine,  337. 


32  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

the  Kohathites  were  allotted  twenty-three  cities,  (thirteen  of  which  were  properly 
sacerdotal,  inasmuch  as  they  were  assigned  to  the  sons  of  Aaron,  to  whom  the 
priesthood  was  exclusively  confined  ;)  to  the  Gershonites,  thirteen  ;  and  the  Merarites, 
twelve.  Six  of  these  cities  were  asyla,  or  cities  of  refuge,  Numb.  xxxv.  6  ;  whither  the 
man  who  had  slain  his  fellow  "  unwittingly"  might  flee,  and  find  an  asylum  from  his 
pursuers,  and  be  secui-e  from  the  efi'ects  of  private  revenge  till  cleared  by  a  legal 
process.  The  Israelites  were  commanded  to  "  prepare  a  way,"  or  make  a  convenient 
road,  "  that  every  slayer  might  flee  thither,"  without  impediment,  and  with  all  possible 
expedition,  Deut.  xix.  3.  The  rabbins  inform  us,  that  at  every  cross  road  was  set  up 
this  inscription,  "Eefuge !  Eefuge!"  to  guide  the  fugitive  in  his  flight.  "The 
institution,"  it  has  been  observed,  "  was  framed  with  a  view  to  abate  the  evils  which 
ensued  from  the  old-established  rights  of  the  blood-avenger,  and  thereby  to  further  the 
prevalence  in  the  nation  of  a  mild,  gentle,  and  forgiving  spirit."  It  may  also  be 
regarded  as  typical  of  the  refuge  which  is  to  be  found  in  Christ,  for  all  those  who  by 
faith  flee  unto  him. 

The  tribes  may  here  be  classed  according  to  the  order  of  time  in  which  they 
obtained  possession  of  their  territories. 

Eeuben's  territoiy  lay  on  the  "other  side"  of  the  Jordan.  It  had  no  fixed  limit  on 
the  east:  in  the  time  of  Saul  it  extended  across  the  wilderness  to  the  Euphrates, 
1  Chron.  v.  9,  10.  On  the  west  it  was  bounded  by  the  Jordan  and  the  Dead  Sea.  The 
Reubenites  were  chiefly  a  pastoral  people.  The  prediction,  "Thou  shalt  not  excel," 
was  remarkably  fulfilled  in  this  tribe,  as  not  a  single  individual  from  their  number 
attained  to  eminence  in  the  national  history.  The  region  held  by  them  is  now  called 
Belkah,  and  is  still  celebrated  for  its  rich  pasturage.  The  ruins  of  several  cities 
included  in  their  borders,  are  still  visible,  retaining  the  ancient  names. 

Gad  possessed  the  whole  eastern  portion  of  the  valley  of  the  Jordan,  knowTi  as  the 
land  of  Gilead.  This  tribe  was  hemmed  in  on  the  east  for  some  distance  by  the 
Ammonites,  who  had  taken  possession  of  the  country  previously  occupied  by  the 
Amorites  ;  but  the  Gadites  had  access  to  the  wilderness  at  the  north-eastern  portion  of 
their  land.  To  them  belonged  thirteen  "fenced  cities,"  as  well  as  "  sheepfolds,"  or 
\allages  occupied  by  herdsmen  and  shepherds.  Their  country  was  very  fertile,  and 
well  watered  by  the  Jabbok  and  other  smaller  streams  which  ran  through  it. 

Manasseh  received  half  of  their  inheritance  on  the  north  side  of  Ephraim,  though 
they  seem  also  to  have  possessed  certain  parcels  of  land  in  Issachar,  Ephraim,  and 
Asher,  Josh.  xvii.  7 — 13.  Those  of  the  tribe  whose  inheritance  fell  on  the  west  of  the 
Jordan,  in  Canaan,  had  a  fine  tract  of  country,  in  length  about  fifty  miles,  though  in 
width  not  exceeding  twenty,  and  in  some  parts  only  ten.  The  mountains  of  Gilboa 
and  other  famed  localities  were  within  its  borders.  Several  of  the  judges  and  other 
ancient  persons  were  Manassehites,  and  their  countiy  was  the  scene  of  many  events 
recorded  in  Old  Testament  histoiy.  The  pastoral  half  of  the  tribe  was  allowed  to 
establish  itself  in  a  territory  beyond  the  Jordan,  in  the  kingdom  of  Bashan,  which  had 
been  subdued  by  Jair,  Deut.  iii.  14.  It  was  a  large  and  undefined  territory,  described 
as  "all  Bashan"  and  "half  of  Gilead,"  Josh.  xiii.  30,  31.  Many  of  the  Gentiles,  how- 
ever, resided  in  their  midst,  and  for  ages  heathenism  was  not  entirely  exterminated 
from  some  of  their  cities. 

JuDAH  had  the  ascendancy  over  the  other  tribes  of  Israel,  according  to  the  prophetic 
blessing  of  the  patriarch  Jacob.  In  the  lot  of  this  tribe  were  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
cities,  Josh.  xv.  21 — 62.  They  were  divided  into  classes,  as  the  uttermost  cities,  the 
cities  in  the  valley,  the  cities  in  the  mountains,  the  cities  in  the  wilderness,  or  those  on 


THE  KEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  33 

the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Some  of  these,  towards  the  coast,  however,  as  Gaza, 
Askelon,  Ashdod,  Ekron,  and  Gath,  were  held  by  the  Philistines,  in  defiance  of  all  the 
assaults  made  to  possess  them  by  the  children  of  Judah.  The  country  of  Judah  was 
distinguished  by  numerous  mountains  and  hills,  as  Zion,  Moriah,  and  Olivet,  Engedi, 
and  Carmel,  between  which  ran  luxuriant  and  beautiful  plains,  well  watered  by  springs 
and  streams,  and  yielding  large  supplies  of  corn,  fruits,  and  oil.  The  portion  known 
as  "  the  wilderness  of  Judah"  was  far  from  being  a  barren  waste,  as  it  afforded  good 
pasturage  to  extensive  flocks  and  herds:  traces  of  its  ancient  cultivation  are  still  visible. 

Ephraim  lay  north  of  Benjamin  and  Dan.  This  tribe,  along  with  that  of  ]\Ianasseh, 
had  originally  one  portion  assigned  to  them,  as  "the  sons  of  Joseph,"  but  which 
afterwards  was  separated.  Their  boundary,  as  given  in  Josh.  xvi.  5 — 8,  cannot  now  be 
definitely  traced.  It  was  one  of  the  finest  and  most  fruitful  portions  of  the  Holy  Land, 
and  subsequently  was  included  in  the  kingdom  of  Samaria.  Several  ranges  of 
mountains  intersected  the  land,  and,  among  other  celebrated  spots,  it  possessed  the 
fertile  plains  of  Sharon.  The  tribe  of  Ephraim  exerted  a  counterbalancing  influence 
on  Judah ;  and  on  these  two  the  weaker  tribes  were  to  a  great  extent  dependent.  Its 
wealth  and  importance  were  increased  from  the  fact  of  the  ark  being  dei")osited  in 
Shiloh,  one  of  its  cities ;  but  on  its  removal  by  David  to  Jerusalem,  the  jealous  spirit 
of  Ephraim  was  aroused,  which  led  to  continual  rivalry  and  alienation  between  these 
two  strong  tribes,  and  prepared  the  way  for  the  revolt  of  the  ten  tribes,  of  Avhich 
Ephraim  was  the  most  distinguished,  in  the  days  of  Eehoboam. 

Benjamin  occupied  a  strip  of  land  between  Judah  and  Ephraim.  To  this  position 
the  prophecy  of  Moses  may  refer :  "He  shall  dwell  between  his  shoulders,"  Deut.  xxxiii. 
12 ;  for  his  inheritance  was  situate  between  those  of  the  two  strongest  and  most 
warlike  of  the  tribes  of  Israel.  It  included  between  its  limits  Bethel,  Gibeon,  Jeru- 
salem, and  Jericho;  though  Jerusalem,  as  the  capital  of  the  whole  community,  was 
regarded  rather  as  belonging  to  the  entire  nation,  than  the  possession  of  a  single  tribe. 
Its  territory  extended,  at  its  greatest  length,  to  thirty-four,  and  its  breadth  to  twenty 
miles.  Though  it  had  no  streams  of  note,  it  was  well  supplied  with  water  from  wells 
and  sj)rings,  which  tended  to  fertilize  the  land.  This  tribe  had  the  honour  of  giving 
the  first  king  to  Israel,  in  the  person  of  Saul,  the  son  of  Kish;  and  Saul  of  Tarsus, 
the  most  eminent  preacher  of  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles. 

Zebulun  possessed  a  small  but  very  fruitful  district,  in  the  north  of  the  land.  On 
the  east  it  included  part  of  the  shores  of  the  Sea  of  Chinnereth,  (see  ]\Iatt.  iv.  13 ;)  and 
on  the  west  it  touched  on  the  Mediterranean,  by  means  of  Carmel,  part  of  which 
mountain  was  assigned  to  it:  thus  was  fulfilled  the  prophet's  declaration,  "Zebulun 
shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  the  sea,"  Gen.  xlix.  13.  Its  most  distinguished  city  was 
Nazareth.  The  inhabitants  of  this  district  were  highly  favoured  in  beholding  tlie 
miracles  and  hearing  the  gracious  teachings  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  and  from 
among  them  the  greater  part  of  his  apostles  were  selected. 

IssACHAR  possessed  the  beautiful  valley  of  Jezreel,  the  mountains  Tabor,  Little 
Hermon,  and  Gilboa,  and  several  rich  plains  bordering  on  the  Jordan.  The  extent  of 
its  territory  was  about  forty-seven  miles  in  length,  and  twenty-six  in  breadth.  In  its 
centre  were  portions  which  belonged  to  the  half-tribe  of  Manasseh.  Josephus  attests 
that  the  heritage  of  this  tribe  "  was  fruitful  to  admiration,  abounding  in  pastures  and 
nurseries  of  all  kinds,  so  that  it  would  make  any  man  in  love  with  husbandry."  The 
people  were  distinguished  for  their  patient  industry  and  agricultural  pursuits ;  to  Avhich 
the  prophetic  words  of  Jacob  point,  Gen.  xlix.  14,  15.  They  were,  however,  able  in 
time  of  war  to  number  64,000  men;  and  their  cities  were  also  numerous  and  populous. 

D 


34  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

AsiiKR  occupied  the  north-western  part  of  the  land,  from  Carmel  to  near  Sidon 
in  Phoenicia ;  tlie  tribe  of  Zebulun  was  on  the  south,  and  NaphtaU  on  the  east  It 
possessed  a  great  extent  of  maritime  country ;  hence  it  is  said,  "  A.sher  continued 
on  the  sea-shore,  and  abode  in  his  breaches,"  or  creeks,  Judges  v.  17.  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  and  other  Phoenician  cities,  have  been  generally  included  in  ils  boundaries, 
but  upon  insufficient  grounds.  The  Asherites  were  unable  for  some  time  to  obtain 
possession  of  their  territories,  but  "  dwelt  among  the  Canaanites,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  land,"  who  still  retained  seven  cities  assigned  to  this  tribe.  Judges  i.  31,  32.  The 
•whole  district  was  well  watered  by  streams  that  flowed  from  the  Lebanon  and  other 
neighbouring  mountains. 

Naphtali  was  bounded  on  tlic  west  by  Asher,  and  on  the  cast  by  the  Jordan 
and  the  region  of  Argob,  which  is  called  in  Josh.  xix.  34,  "Judah  upon  Jordan," 
because  Jair,  who  conquered  it,  was  related  to  the  ti-ibe  of  Judah,  1  Chron.  ii.  22,  23. 
It  was  about  thirty  miles  in  length,  and  twenty  in  breadth,  although  it  probably 
extended  its  southern  limits  beyond  that  river.  The  land  was  fertile,  and  beauti- 
fully diversified  with  hill  and  valley  ;  at  the  present  day  it  is  better  cultivated  than 
any  other  district  in  Palestine.  Modern  Jews  i-esort  to  this  district,  more  especially 
to  the  town  of  Saphet,  where  they  have  a  famous  rabbinical  college. 

Dan  had  the  smallest  portion  in  the  distribution  of  Canaan,  being  about 
eighteen  miles  from  east  to  west,  and  twenty-four  from  north  to  south.  It  lay  on 
the  west  of  Benjamin  and  Judah,  and  extended  to  the  Mediterranean  through  the 
country  of  the  Philistines.  The  Danites  do  not  appear  to  have  expelled  the  original 
inhabitants,  in  consequence  of  which  the  province  soon  became  too  small  for  their 
accommodation.  In  the  time  of  the  judges,  accordingly,  600  families  of  this  tribe 
emigrated  northward,  and,  attacking  the  city  of  Laish,  near  Mount  Lebanon,  sub- 
dued it,  and  changed  its  name  to  Dan,  Judges  xviii.  The  proximity  of  this  tribe 
to  the  Philistines  on  the  sea-coast  will  explain  several  circumstances  in  the  history 
of  Samson,  who  was  a  Danite.  The  country  yielded  great  quantities  of  grain  and 
most  delicious  fruits. 

Simeon  received  "  a  divided  inheritance  "  in  Judah,  as  eighteen  cities  belonging 
to  this  people  lay  within  the  southern  portion  of  the  country  of  the  latter  tribe, 
Josh.  xix.  2 — 9  ;  but  they  at  length  were  dissevered  from  Judah,  and  their  country 
fonned  the  most  southern  portion  of  the  Holy  Land.  The  desert  of  Bezor  and 
several  other  tracts  belonging  to  this  territory,  were  unfit  for  cultivation;  but  other 
portions  were  generally  fertile.  As  the  Simeonites  chiefly  led  a  pastoral  life,  they 
pastured  their  flocks  around  in  all  directions,  as  far  as  the  neighbouring  tribes  would 
permit  them,  1  Chron.  iv.  28,  39 — 41.  Some  of  them  placed  themselves  as  far  south 
as  Mount  Seir  in  the  days  of  Hezeldah.  The  tribe  contained  59,300  able-bodied  men 
on  coming  out  of  Egypt,  Numb.  i.  23  ;  but  when  numbered  on  the  plains  of  Moab, 
pre'vious  to  entering  Canaan,  they  were  only  22,000  :  a  decrease  in  the  course  of 
one  generation  which  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the  supposition  that  they  were 
more  extensively  corrupted  by  the  affair  at  Peor,  and  fell  more  fatally  under  the 
righteous  judgments  of  God,  Numb.  xxv.  xxvi. 

The  final  division  of  the  land  was  made  at  Shiloh,  which  Joshua  had  chosen 
as  a  central  position,  where  he  set  up  the  Tabernacle,  depositing  therein  the  ark 
of  the  covenant.  Here  it  coiitinued  more  than  four  hundred  years,  until  taken  bv 
the  Philistines  in  the  days  of  Eli.  After  the  death  of  the  great  Jewish  captain, 
the   children   of  Israel  ceased  their  exterminating   warfare   with  the  Canaanites,  and 


Cvmpilei  Se  En^i^VrF-Gonrra-. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  35 

contented  themselves  with  making  them  vassals.  They  even  proceeded  to  con- 
iiaci  marriages  with  them,  and  thus  were  inveigled  into  the  vices  and  idolatiy  of 
heathenism,  which  brought  upon  them  the  marked  displeasure  of  God. 


No.  V. 

€\it  Jiltigkm  nf  SmWi  ntiii  .^nlninnii, 

DuiuNG  the  government  of  the  judges,  the  Israelites  established  themselves  more 
(irmly  in  Canaan ;  though,  as  before  mentioned,  they  ceased  their  exterminating 
warfare  with  the  inhabitants,  and  contented  themselves  in  making  them  vassals. 
Saul,  the  first  king  of  Israel,  pushed  his  conquests  beyond  Jordan,  and  overcame 
several  neighbouring  tribes  and  nations,  especially  those  ancient  foes  of  the  Hebrews, 
the  Amalekites,  who  had  been  judicially  doomed  to  destruction,  Exod.  xvii.  14 ; 
Deut.  XXV.  18.  But  Saul  was  himself  defeated  and  slain  by  the  Philistines  in  the 
.  valley  of  Jezreel. 

David,  at  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  fixed  the  seat  of  his  government  at  Hebron  ; 
but  about  1049  e.g.  he  took  Jerusalem  from  the  Jebusites,  which  thenceforward 
became  the  capital  of  the  kingdom.  This  prince,  desirous  of  completing  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  original  inhabitants  of  the  land,  first  turned  his  arms  westwards,  against 
the  Philistines,  whom  he  subdued,  taking  from  them  Gath  and  its  territory,  2  Sam. 
viii.  1 ;  1  Chron.  xviii.  1.  He  next  turned  eastwards,  and  overcame  the  Moabites 
beyond  Jordan,  and  rendered  them  tributary,  2  Sam.  viii.  2.  From  thence  he  pro- 
ceeded northwards,  and  subdued  the  Syrians  of  Zobah  and  Damascus,  extending 
his  conquests  to  the  Euphrates,  thus  realizing  the  promise  made  to  Abraham, 
Gen.  XV.  18 ;  2  Sam.  viii.  3 — 10.  Wliile  David  was  engaged  in  these  victories,  his 
valiant  captain,  Abishai,  defeated  the  Edomites  in  the  "Valley  of  Salt,"  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  then  pressed  his  victorious  arms  into 
the  mountains  and  rocky  wildernesses  of  Mount  Seir,  leaving  gaiTisons  to  secure 
the  advantages  he  had  gained.  In  this  subjection  of  the  families  of  Esau  to  that 
of  Jacob  were  fulfilled  the  prophetic  declarations  of  Gen.  xxv.  23,  xxvii.  29,  40  ; 
Numb.  xxiv.  18 ;  1  Chron.  xviii.  12,  13  ;  2  Sam.  viii.  14.  This  was  the  most 
important  accession  which  the  Hebrew  territories  received,  inasmuch  as  it  gave 
them  the  command  of  one  of  the  arms  of  the  Ked  Sea  and  the  port  of  Ezion-geber ; 
from  which,  in  the  following  reign,  in  conjunction  with  the  Phoenicians,  those 
expeditions  were  made  to  Ophir  and  Tarshish,  which  imported  into  Judea  the 
various  productions  of  foreign  lands,  1  Kings  x.  2 — 18. 

Solomon,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  ascended  the  throne  of  his  father,  1030  B.C.,  and 
inherited  an  empire  extending  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Euphrates,  and  from  the 
mountains  of  Lebanon  to  the  Ked  Sea,  1  Kings  iv.  21,  including  a  population  of  about 
5,000,000.  The  northern  boundary  of  his  dominions  has  been  recently  satisfactorily 
determined  by  the  discovery  of  the  site  of  Tiphsah  (which  signifies  "a  passing  over  the 
ford,")  the  border  town  on  "  this  side  the  river,"  (Euphrates)  1  Kings  iv.  24.  This 
monarch  made  a  new  division  of  the  land,  separating  it  into  twelve  provinces  or  govern- 
ments, placing  each  under  a  viceroy  or  lieutenant.     The  names  of  these,  and  also  of  the 

d2 


36  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

districts  over  which  they  presided,  are  found  in  1  Kings  iv.  7 — 19.  To  secure  the  trade 
of  tlie  Indian  Ocean  and  the  distant  country  of  Ophir,  Solomon  built  two  cities  on  the 
Akabah,  the  eastern  arm  of  the  Ked  Sea  A  large  pile  of  ruins  is  supposed  to  mark 
Elath,  one  of  these  places. 

In  addition  to  the  nations  that  were  tributary  to  Solomon,  others  were  in  friendly 
alliance  ;  and  their  kings,  desirous  of  benefiting  by  his  wisdom  or  his  powerful  support, 
cultivated  his  friendship  by  bringing  "  every  man  his  present,  vessels  of  silver,  and 
vessels  of  gold,  and  raiment,  harness,  and  spices,  horses,  and  mules,  a  rate  year  by 
year,"  2  Chron.  ix.  24. 

Jahn  calculates  that  the  number  of  Canaanites  yet  in  the  land  was  from  400,000  to 
500,000,  who  were  not  only  tributary  to  Solomon,  but  rendered  him  laborious  service 
which  he  could  not  impose  on  his  own  people.  "Peace  gave  to  all  his  subjects  prosperity. 
The  trade  which  he  introduced  brought  wealth  into  the  country,  and  promoted  the 
sciences  and  arts,  which  there  found  an  active  protector  in  the  king,  who  was  himself 
distinguished  for  his  wisdom  The  building  of  the  Temple  and  of  several  palaces 
introduced  foreign  artists,  by  whom  the  Hebrews  wei'e  instructed.  ]\Iauy  foreigners, 
and  even  sovereign  princes,  were  attracted  to  Jerusalem,  in  order  to  converse  with  the 
prosperous  royal  sage.  Tlie  regular  progress  of  business,  the  arrangements  for  security 
from  foreign  and  domestic  enemies,  the  army,  the  palaces,  the  royal  household,  the 
good  order  in  the  administration,  and  in  the  service  of  the  court,  excited  as  much 
admiration  as  the  wisdom  and  learning  of  the  viceroy  of  Jehovah."  * 

Thus  "the  Lord  magnified  Solomon  exceedingly  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel,  and 
bestowed  upon  him  such  royal  majesty  as  had  not  been  on  any  king  before  him  in 
Israel,"  1  Chron.  xxix.  25. 

The  boundaries  of  the  tribes,  and  their  mode  of  government  by  their  princes, 
remained  unaltered  through  the  reign  of  David,  and  partially  so  during  the  time  of  Solo- 
mon ;  but  after  the  division  of  the  kingdom  in  the  reign  of  Eehoboam,  the  authority  of 
the  princes  was  gradually  merged  in  that  of  the  kings.  The  precise  boundaries  between 
the  kingdoms  of  Judah  and  Israel,  in  the  days  of  Eehoboam,  when  ten  of  the  tribes 
revolted,  and  established  a  kingdom  under  the  latter  name,  have  not  been  satisfactorily 
determined.  The  impolitic  and  imperious  conduct  of  the  son  of  Solomon  deprived 
hnn  of  three-fourths  of  the  dominions  of  his  father.  The  relative  strength  of  the  two 
kingdoms,  however,  was  more  equally  divided,  as  Judah  became  far  more  densely 
populated,  in  consequence  of  large  numbers  of  the  Levites  and  the  pious  from  among 
the  other  tribes,  who,  refusing  to  countenance  the  idolatries  of  Jeroboam,  settled  in 
this  part  of  the  land.  The  capital  of  Israel  was  at  first  Shechem  (1  Kings  xii.  25,)  then 
Tirzah  (xiv.  17,  xv.  33,)  which  continued  to  be  such  till  the  reign  of  Omri,  who  pur- 
chased the  hill  of  Samaria,  and  constituted  it  the  seat  of  government.  Judah,  though 
much  smaller  than  Israel,  continued  her  national  existence  one  hundred  and  thirty-four 
years  longer ;  but,  at  last,  on  account  of  her  sins,  she  received  the  same  condign 
punishment  as  her  sister  kingdom,  in  fulfilment  of  the  words  of  Moses  and  the  jDrophets. 

One  important  spot  in  this  map  is  "  Tadmor  in  the  wilderness,"  founded  by 
Solomon,  1  Kings  ix.  18,  and  which  is  known  to  the  Arabs  at  the  present  day  by  the 
same  name.  The  situation  of  this  once  famous  city  is  in  a  small  oasis  of  the  Syrian 
desert,  abundantly  supplied  with  pure  water,  which  renders  it  probable  that  it  was  a 
place  of  resort  to  caravans  travelling  from  the  east  to  Phoenicia  and  Asia  Minor.  The 
Hebrew  name  of  this  city  signified  a  palm-tree :  hence  the  Greeks  called  it  Palmyra, 
"  the  city  of  palms."     It  is  probable  that  it  did  not  remain  long  in  the  possession  of  the 

♦  .Talui's  Hebrew  Commonwealth, 


Draim  k  Eag*WE  '""L>vsi  . 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  37 

Hebrews  after  the  death  of  Solomon,  though  it  flourished  for  ages — a  magnificent  city 
in  the  midst  of  a  solitary  desert.  Its  ruins,  which  are  of  an  age  subsequent  to  the  times 
of  its  royal  founder,  show  that  it  was  of  considerable  extent.  The  usual  approach  to 
them  is  from  the  west,  through  a  valley  of  about  two  miles  in  length,  at  the  termination 
of  which,  thousands  of  Corinthian  columns,  of  white  marble,  burst  upon  the  traveller's 
sight  in  all  their  desolate  grandeur.  "So  numerous  are  these,"  it  has  been  said,  "  that 
the  spectator  is  at  a  loss  to  connect  or  arrange  them  in  any  order  or  symmetry,  or  to 
conceive  what  purpose  or  design  they  could  have  answered."  The  wretched  hovels  of  a 
poor  tribe  of  Arabs  now  occupy  the  court  of  the  once  splendid  Temple  of  the  Sun. 

The  names  of  those  Canaanitish  nations,  which,  scattered  among  the  Israelites, 
maintained  a  partial  independence  till  the  reign  of  Solomon,  are  inserted  in  the  map. 


No.  VL 

UNDER  THE  MACCAB.EAN  AND  IDUM^^IAN  PRINCES,  AND  ILLUSTRATIVE 
OF  THE  PERIOD  OF  CHRIST  AND  HIS  APOSTLES. 

The  land  of  Canaan  varied  in  its  political  divisions  at  different  periods  of  its 
history.  Under  the  administration  of  Joshua  it  was  arranged  in  tribal  cantons ; 
during  the  reign  of  Solomon  it  was  formed  into  provinces  ;  in  the  days  of  his 
successors  it  was  divided  into  two  kingdoms ;  and  when  our  Lord  was  on  the 
earth  it  was  subdivided  into  tetrarchies  or  four  presidencies,  the  whole  being  tribu 
tary  to  the  Komans.  These  tetrarchies  were  Judea,  Samaria,  Galilee,  and  Pereea. 
The  first  three  were  included  in  Palestine  proper;  the  last  embraced  the  territory 
beyond  the  Jordan.  There  was  also  a  fifth  division,  Idumaea,  pai't  of  which,  however, 
lay  out  of  the  borders  of  Canaan,  or  Palestine. 

Palestine,  signifying  "  the  land  of  the  wanderer,"  was  an  early  name  of  the 
country  of  the  Philistines,  Exod.  xv.  14  ;  Isa.  xiv.  29.  Strictly  it  belonged  only  to 
the  strip  of  land  bordering  on  the  Mediterranean  ;  but  Philo  and  Josephus  use  the 
word  to  designate  the  country  of  the  Jews  generally ;  and  hence  it  became  a  common 
appellation  employed  alike  by  Greeks  and  Komans,  Christians  and  Mohammedans. 

JUDEA. 

Judea  was  the  most  southern  portion  of  the  country.  The  Jewish  captives 
who  returned  to  their  own  land  were  chiefly  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  They  spread 
over  the  original  territories  of  Judah,  Benjamin,  and  Dan,  and  gave  the  name  of 
Judea  to  this  portion  of  the  land  of  their  fathers ;  and  the  people  themselves  were 
from  that  time  no  longer  called  Hebrews  or  Israelites,  but  Judsei,  or  Jews.  Josephus 
thus  describes  this  portion :  "  The  southern  parts,  if  they  be  measured  lengthwise, 
are  bounded  by  a  village  adjoining  the  confines  of  Arabia,  called  by  the  Jews  who 
dwell  there,  Jordan  ;  and  its  northei'n  limit,  where  it  joins  Samaria,  is  the  village 
Annath,  also  called  Borceos  :  its  breadth,  however,  is  extended  from  the  river  Jordan 
to  Joppa,  on  the  shore  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  city  of  Jerusalem  is  situated 
in  the  verv  middle,  on  which  account  some  have,  with  sagacity  enough,  called  that 


38  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

city  the  navel  of  the  country.  Nor  is  Judea  destitute  of  such  delicacies  as  come 
from  the  sea,  since  its  maritime  places  extend  as  far  as  Ptolemais.  It  was  divided 
into  eleven  portions,  of  which  the  royal  city  of  Jerusalem  was  the  chief;  and  ruled 
over  the  neighbouring  country,  as  the  head  over  the  body.  As  for  the  other  cities 
which  were  inferior  to  it,  they  presided  over  their  several  provinces.  Gophna  was 
the  second  of  them ;  Acrahatta  the  next ;  after  them,  Thamna,  Lydda,  Emmaus. 
Palla,  Idumea,  Engedi,  Herodium,  and  Jericho  ;  and  after  these  came  Jamnia  and 
Joppa,  as  presiding  over  the  neighbouring  people."  From  the  Mishna,  it  appears 
that  this  division  was  considered  under  four  aspects ;  namely,  the  western,  which 
lay  alono-  the  Mediterranean  ;  the  mountainous,  or  pastoral  district ;  the  plain,  which 
lay  farther  east,  and  inclined  towards  Jordan  ;  and  the  vale,  or  flat,  which  bordered 
on  the  banks  of  that  river.  The  whole  of  this  province  was  often  denominated  the 
•'  south  countr}',"  because  it  lay  southwards  of  Samaria. 

The  eastern  part  of  this  land  formed  what  is  called  in  Scripture  the  desert,  or 
the  wilderness  of  Judea.  It  ranged  along  the  slopes  of  the  mountains  which  con- 
stituted the  western  cliffs  of  the  Dead  Sea.  This  tract  of  country  is  sixty-five 
miles  in  length,  and  ten  in  breadth.  At  the  present  day  a  considerable  portion 
of  it  is  a  stony  and  barren  district ;  but  the  parts  furthest  from  the  sea  have 
numerous  inhabitants,  and  afford  good  pasturage  to  large  flocks  and  herds.  Here 
are  the  remains  of  many  ancient  sites,  which  were  visited  by  Dr.  Eobinson,  whose 
well-directed  labours  were  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  the  localities  of  several 
places  mentioned  in  Scripture.  The  hill  country,  or  "  the  mountains  of  Judea," 
consist  of  a  number  of  precipitous  ridges,  interspersed  with  numerous  small  valleys, 
well  watered  by  brooks  and  rivulets.  It  forms  a  broad  table-land,  about  thirty 
miles  in  length,  and  seven  in  breadth;  and  its  round,  steep  hills,  long  ridges,  and 
verdant  plains,  present  a  constantly  diversified  and  picturesque  scene.  Its  moun- 
tains, beinff  about  midway  between  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Dead  Sea,  afford 
some  beautiful  and  extensive  views  of  the  countiy.  The  villages  of  Judea  were 
generally  built  on  the  tops  of  hills  ;  and  now,  as  in  ancient  times,  the  female 
peasants  are  seen  carrying  on  their  shoulders  the  water,  contained  in  earthen 
pitchers,  procured  from  the  fountains  at  the  base  of  the  mountains. 

Judea,  at  the  death  of  Herod  the  Great,  was  assigned  to  his  son  Archelaus, 
Matt.  ii.  22,  who,  after  reigning  nine  years,  was  deposed  by  the  Eomans,  and 
banished  to  Gaul.  Judea  was  now  entirely  reduced  to  a  Eoman  province.  The 
sceptre  had  departed,  for  Shiloh  had  now  come,  according  to  the  prediction  uttered 
by  the  patriarch  Jacob,  Gen.  xlix.  10.  Syria  was  placed  by  its  heathen  masters 
under  the  government  of  a  proconsul,  Publius  Quirinus,  (the  Cyrenius  of  Luke  ii,  2,) 
who  resided  at  Csesarea.  Under  the  proconsul  were  procurators  ;  one  of  whom, 
Pontius  Pilate,  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  Judea  about  a.d.  2G,  and  was 
stationed  at  Jerusalem  with  a  cohort  of  soldiers  under  his  command.  His  oppres- 
sive conduct  led  to  his  loss  of  office  and  disgrace  at  the  end  of  ten  years. 

SAMARIA. 

Samaria  was  the  smallest  of  the  tetrarchies ;  it  comprehended  the  original  pos- 
sessions of  the  tribes  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh.  Josephus  describes  its  general 
features  in  the  following  terms  :  "  It  is  entirely  of  the  same  nature  as  Judea,  for 
both  countries  are  made  up  of  hills  and  valleys,  are  moist  enough  for  agriculture, 
and  are  very  fertile.     They  have  abundance  of  trees,  and  are  full  of  autumnal  fruit, 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  fiO 

both  that  which  grows  wild,  and  that  v/hich  is  the  result  of  cultivation.  They  are 
naturally  Avatered  by  many  streams,  but  derive  their  chief  moisture  from  rain  water, 
preserved  in  reservoirs  during  the  dry  season,  of  which  they  have  no  want ;  and  as 
for  those  streams  which  they  have,  their  waters  are  exceeding  sweet.  By  reason 
also  of  the  excellent  grass  which  they  have,  their  cattle  yield  more  milk  than  those 
in  other  places  ;  and,  what  is  the  greatest  sign  of  excellency  and  abundance,  they 
each  of  them  are  very  full  of  people.'' 

There  was  no  natural  boundary  between  the  provinces  of  Judea  and  Samaria. 
After  the  Israelites  were  carried  away  captive  to  Assyria,  their  conquerors  planted 
colonies  from  Babylon,  Hamath,  and  other  heathen  places,  who  introduced  their 
idolatrous  practices.  These  people  mingled  with  the  poor  and  feeble  Samaritans 
left  in  the  land,  and  a  system  of  religion  was  introduced  in  which  the  worship  of 
idols  was  associated  with  that  of  the  true  God.  On  the  return  of  the  Jews  an 
inveterate  enmity  sprang  up  between  the  two  races,  and  they  would  have  no 
"  dealings  "  one  with  the  other,  John  iv.  9.  Continual  conflicts  took  place,  and  the 
Jews,  being  the  stronger  party,  made  encroachments  on  the  Samaiitan  boundaries, 
which  accordingly  varied  at  different  periods. 

The  chief  cities  of  the  province  were  Samaria,  Sychar,  and  Shiloh.  The  valleys 
are  generally  deep  ravines,  much  narrower  and  steeper  than  those  of  Judea.  One 
of  the  chief  is  that  of  Shechem,  through  which  a  brook  continually  flows.  The 
plain  of  Sharon  is  a  district  of  country  lying  along  the  Mediterranean  between  Joppa 
and  Carmel.  In  the  Scriptures  this  name  is  applied  only  to  that  part  of  the  great 
level  which  lies  north  of  Joppa,  but  it  was  afterwards  extended  to  a  wider  range. 
The  southern  part  of  the  plain  is  verdant  and  fruitful :  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
it  is  adorned  with  an  extraordinary  variety  of  beautiful  flowers.  But  where  Solomon's 
herds  once  pastured  in  peace,  the  wolf  and  other  wild  animals  now  abound.  And  where 
the  husbandman  once  sat  under  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree,  in  the  midst  of  well- 
cultivated  fields,  "  none  daring  to  make  him  afraid,"  the  poor  modern  Ai-ab  never 
goes  forth  to  plough  without  a  gun  on  his  back,  and  then  sows  only  as  much 
grain  as  will  serve  for  his  own  scanty  support,  lest  he  should  provoke  the  exactions 
of  his  jealous  and  oppressive  rulers. 

The  length  of  Samaria,  from  north  to  south,  was  reckoned  a  three  days' journey. 
Hence,  says  Josephus,  "  it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  those  who  would  go  quickly 
to  Jerusalem,"  (from  Galilee,)  "  to  pass  through  that  country."  And  hence  there 
was  a  natural,  as  well  as  moral  reason,  that  our  Lord  "  must  needs  go  through 
Samaria"  to  Jerusalem,  as  recorded  in  John  iv,  4. 

The  gospel  was  preached  to  the  Samaritans  by  Philip,  and  the  first  Christian 
church  out  of  Jerusalem  was  formed  in  the  city  of  Samaria,  within  one  year  of  our 
Lord's  death,  Acts  viii. ;  but  heresy  was  soon  introduced  by  Simon  Magus.  An  adul- 
terated form  of  Christianity  appears  to  have  existed  among  them  from  that  time  to  the 
present  day.  "  They  were,"  says  Gibbon,  "  an  ambiguous  sect,  rejected  as  Jews  by 
the  Pagans,  by  the   Jews   as   schismatics,  and  by  the  Christians  as  idolaters." 

GALILEE. 

This  was  the  most  northerly  division  of  Palestine,  and  contained  the  original 
.portions  of  Issachar,  Zebulun,  Naphtali,  7vsher,  and  parts  of  the  tribes  of  Dan,  and 
the  eastern  half-tribe  of  Manasseh.  It  was  the  most  extensive  tetrarch  of  the  Holy 
Land.     The  limits  of  Galilee  have  been  thus  defined  by  Josephus  : — "  It  is  terminated 


40  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

west  by  Ptolomais  and  Carmel,  which  do  not  belong  to  Gahlee ;  on  the  south,  by 
the  country  of  Samaria  and  Scythopolis,  on  the  river  Jordan  ;  on  the  east,  by  the 
cantons  of  Hippos,  Gadara,  and  Gaulan ;  on  the  north,  by  the  confines  of  the  Tyrians." 
After  the  Jews  were  carried  into  captivity,  various  Gentile  tribes  migrated  into  this 
division  of  the  land,  and  formed  settlements.  They  afterwards  intermarried  with 
the  Jews.  The  country  being  destitute  of  natural  barriers,  was  also  more  open  to 
the  aggressions  of  the  Tyrians  and  neighbouring  heathen  nations  than  other  parts 
of  the  land;  hence  it  was  called  Galilee,  or  "district,"  (that  is,  "of  the  Gentiles"). 
This  fact  also  accounts  for  the  low  estimate  in  which  the  Galileans  were  held  by 
the  Jews,  who  imagined  that  nothing  good  could  come  out  of  Galilee,  John  i.  46, 
vii.  59.  The  language  of  the  inhabitants  became  so  corrupted  by  their  intercourse 
with  foreigners,  that  they  could  be  distinguished  from  the  Jews  by  their  speech. 
Matt.  xxvi.  73;  Mark  xiv.  TO. 

Galilee  was  divided  into  Upper  and  Lower.  Upper,  or  Northern  Galilee,  was 
sometimes  called  "the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,"  from  its  proximity  to  those  cities. 
It  was  a  hilly  countiy,  with  deep,  fruitful  valleys.  Lower,  or  Southern  Galilee,  was 
the  territory  occupied  by  Issachar  in  the  early  days  of  Israel,  and  included  the  cele- 
brated plain  of  Esdraelon,  which  is  nearly  fifty  miles  in  length,  and  twenty  in  breadth. 
Dr.  Wells  remarks  of  this  province,  that  it  was  more  honoured  with  our  Saviour's 
presence  than  any  other:  hence  he  was  called  a  Galilean.  "The  immense  population 
of  Galilee,  indeed,  afforded  numerous  opportunities  to  our  Eedeemer  of  preaching  the 
gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  the  diseased,  among  whom  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  while  he  tabernacled  upon  earth.  To  this  province  also  he  commanded 
his  apostles -to  repair,  and  converse  Avith  him  after  his  resurrection.  Matt,  xxviii.  7,  16 ; 
and  of  this  country  the  greater  part,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  apostles  were  natives ;  on 
which  account  they  are  styled  by  the  angels,  'men  of  Galilee,'"  Acts  i.  11.*  Josephus, 
himself  a  Galilean,  describes  his  countiymen  as  a  brave,  high-spirited,  and  industrious 
people,  though  they  were  at  the  same  time  very  turbulent,  and  used  to  be  foremost  in 
all  the  insurrections  against  the  Komans. 

The  principal  cities  of  this  province  were  Csesarea  Palestina,  Tiberias,  Capernaum, 
Chorazin,  Bethsaida,  Cana,  Nazareth,  and  Nain.  It  contained,  according  to  Josephus, 
one  hundred  and  four  cities  and  towns,  the  least  of  which  numbered  fifteen  thousand 
inhabitants ;  but  the  correctness  of  this  account  may  be  justly  questioned.  In  the 
present  day,  the  whole  region  is  almost  deserted,  though  it  is  still  beautiful  even  in  its 
desolation.  No  boat  now  moves  upon  its  sea,  and  no  net  is  cast  into  its  waters.  The 
fields  that  were  formerly  cultivated  are  now  covered  with  thorns  and  thistles ;  the  walls 
of  the  teiTaces  along  the  hill  have  fallen  down ;  the  rain  has  washed  away  the  soil 
from  the  rocks  ;    and  the  groves  of  palm-trees  have  disappeared. 

Pompey  the  Great  first  brought  this  province  under  the  Pioman  sway,  about  61  B.C. 
On  the  deatli  of  Herod  the  Great,  it  formed  one  of  the  tetrarchies  into  which  his 
dominions  were  divided,  and  was  given  to  his  son,  Herod  Antipas,  Luke  iii.  1. 

PER^A. 

Peraea  means  "  the  land  on  the  other  side,"  and  was  applied  at  an  early  period,  to  a 
part  of  the  region  formerly  known  as  the  lands  of  Gilead  and  Bashan,  originally  the 
counirj'  of  the  Ammonites.  It  once  abounded  with  palm-trees,  vines,  and  olives, 
and  was  well  watered  with  springs  and  torrents  from  the  mountains  •    At  the  present 

*  Simes'  Geography. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  41 

day,  though  this  district  is  almost  desoltite,  travellers  speak  of  it  with  expressions  of 
delight.  It  possesses  a  mild  climate,  and  a  fruitful  soil.  Its  principal  city  was 
Gadara,  and  the  region  adjacent  was  known  as  the  country  of  the  Gadarenes,  ]\lark  v. 
1 — 17.  The  remainder  of  the  land  of  Bashan,  not  included  in  Pertea,  was  formed  into 
several  divisions,  the  exact  position  and  limits  of  which  cannot  in  each  case  he 
ascertained.  Abilene  was  the  most  northern  of  these,  and  derived  its  name  from  Abylse, 
or  Abel,  which  probably  signifies  "a  grassy  spot."  The  inhabitants  of  the  country 
called  it  Nebi-Abel,  that  is,  "  the  prophet  Abel,"  from  the  belief  that  Cain  here  buried 
his  murdered  brother.  When  the  Eomans  made  themselves  masters  of  Western  Asia, 
this  district  became  subject  to  them,  and  the  native  rulers  were  made  their  vassals. 

Iturea,  which  probably  corresponded  to  the  old  Geshui",  was  peopled  by  Jetur,  tlie 
son  oflshmael,  Gen.  xsv.  15;  1  Chron.  i.  31:  the  inhabitants  were  distinguished  for 
their  skill  in  the  bow,  and  their  predatory  habits. 

Trachonitis  derived  its  name  from  two  mountains,  called  by  the  Greeks  Trachones. 
It  was  included  in  the  tetrarchy  or  dominion  of  Philip,  the  son  of  Herod  the  Great, 
Luke  iii.  1.  The  immense  cavities  of  the  mountains  in  this  district,  which  were  known 
to  Strabo,  are  to  this  day  secure  retreats  for  marauders.* 

Gaulonitis  received  its  name  from  Gaulon,  or  Golan,  the  chief  city  of  ancient  Bashan. 
The  remains  of  some  of  its  cities  show  that  they  were  places  of  considerable  strength  and 
importance,  and  well  adapted  to  resist,  as  they  did,  the  armies  of  the  warlike  Piomans. 

BatancBa,  in  the  time  of  the  Romans,  was  the  southern  portion  of  the  ancient 
kingdom  of  Bashan,  and  was  noted  for  its  high  hills,  stately  oaks,  rich  pastures,  and 
excellent  cattle.     Its  more  modern  name  does  not  occur  in  the  Scriptures. 

Auranitis,  or  Haiiran,  is  a  beautiful  hilly  district,  covered  with  luxuriant  pasture 
ground,  forming  an  agi-eeable  contrast  to  the  dreary  wilderness  Avhich  adjoins  it.  It 
produces  the  finest  wheat  in  Syria.  It  is  sometimes  noticed  by  writers  as  identical 
with  Trachonitis.  During  the  period  of  its  subjection  to  the  Roman  power  it  was 
densely  inhabited  ;  and  the  ruins  of  its  ancient  villages  still  afford  commodious 
habitations  for  the  present  inhabitants  in  their  migrations  over  the  land.  DecapoUs, 
mentioned  in  the  Gospel,  is  so  called  from  its  containing  ten  principal  cities,  scattered 
through  an  extensive  region.  Geogi'aphers  are  not  agreed  as  to  their  names  and  sites ; 
but  they  are  generally  considered  to  be  Scythopolis,  (or  Bethshan,)  Hippos,  Gadara, 
Pella,  Philadelphia,  (formerly  Rabbath,)  Dium,  Gerasa,  Raphana,  Canatha,  and  perhaps 
Damascus.  In  this  region  our  Lord  preached,  and  wrought  many  miracles,  Matt.  iv. 
25.  Pella  is  said  to  have  been  the  place  to  which  the  Christians  of  Jerusalem  fled,  in 
obedience  to  our  Lord's  direction,  at  the  commencement  of  the  siege  of  that  city. 

IDUMiEA. 

Idumsea,  as  a  district  of  Palestine,  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  Idumsea  of  the 
Old  Testament ;  the  latter  was  in  Arabia  Petrsea,  while  the  former  was  that  part  of 
Judea  which  originally  constituted  the  inheritance  of  Simeon,  and  which  was 
inhabited  principally  by  descendants  of  the  ancient  Edomites.  They  had  settled 
there  without  opposition,  while  the  Jews  were  in  captivity  at  Babylon,  having  been 
driven  from  their  own  country  by  the  violence  of  war.  The  Jews  on  their  return  Avere 
too  weak  to  repossess  themselves  of  the  lands  of  their  fathers,  and  the  Edomites,  or 
Idumseans,  as  they  were  then  called,  continued  to  dwell  in  the  southern  border.  At 
length,  however,  a  little  more  than  a  hundred  years  befoi-e  the  coming  of  Christ,  John 
*  Rosenmuller's  Handbook  of  Bible  Geography. 


42  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Hyrcanus,  the  great  Jewish  commander,  conJjuered  them  completely,  and  compelled 
them  either  to  leave  the  country,  or  to  embrace  the  Jewish  faith.  They  chose  to 
change  their  religion,  rather  than  relinquish  tlicir  lands  and  return  into  the  wilderness; 
and  accordingly  from  that  time  they  became  a  part  of  the  Jewish  nation.  Still,  that 
division  of  the  country  in  which  they  lived  continued  to  be  called  Idumsea,  and  the 
people  IdumfEans,  Mark  iii.  8,  for  several  centuries  after  the  Christian  era. 

MODERN  PALESTINE. 

Syria  remained  a  province  of  the  Eoman  empire  until  its  conquest  by  the  followers 
of  Mohammed,  a.d.  633 — 638  ;  from  which  period  it  was  subject  to  the  Saracens,  until 
the  establishment,  by  the  crusaders,  of  the  Latin  kingdom,  1099.  This  kingdom  Avas 
destroyed  by  Saladin,  1187,  and  the  crusaders  were  finally  expelled,  1291 ;  from  which 
time  Syria  continued  subject  to  the  sovereigns  of  Egypt,  until  the  conquest  of  both 
countries  by  Selim  i.,  1517,  when  they  were  brought  under  the  Turkish  sway.  About 
this  latter  period  Palestine  was  divided  into  five  provinces  ;  namely,  Palestine,  Hauran, 
Al  Ghut,  Emessa,  and  Kinnarin.  More  recently  it  has  been  divided  into  pashalics, 
the  greater  part  of  Palestine  being  comprehended  within  the  pashalic  of  Damascus. 

Considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  our  knowledge  of  the  modern  geography  of 
Palestine,  during  the  present  generation.  The  industrious  researches  of  men  of 
learning  and  enterprise  have  been  directed  to  a  thorough  investigation  of  the  land. 
Many  hitherto  doubtful  sites  have  been  settled,  several  geographical  problems  have 
been  solved,  and  interesting  descriptions  have  cast  much  light  on  the  sacred  narrative. 
Indeed,  every  fresh  account  has  brought  instruction  to  the  Christian  mind,  and 
supplied  illustrations  of  the  sacred  Scripture.*  All  travellers  agree  in  their  statements 
in  regard  to  the  evidence  of  the  former  fertility  of  the  land,  and  its  present  depressed 
and  desolate  state.  "  The  more  I  see  of  Palestine,"  says  Mr.  Paxton,  "  the  more  I  am 
persuaded  that  it  was  once  one  of  the  first  countries  of  the  world.  The  time  was,  I 
doubt  not,  when  all  its  rocks  were  covered  with  a  fine  vegetable  mould."  "  Even  in 
those  parts  where  all  is  now  desolate,"  says  Dr.  Eobinson,  "  there  are  everywhere  traces 
of  the  hand  of  the  men  of  other  days."  "The  numerous  prophecies  conceniing 
Canaan,"  says  another  traveller,  "  have  been  so  literally  fulfilled,  that  they  may  be 
used  as  actual  histoiy.  It  is  now  under  the  curse  of  God,  and  its  general  barrenness 
is  in  full  accordance  with  prophetic  denunciation."  "  The  desolation  of  the  land,"  says 
Lady  F.  Egerton,  "  predicted  in  the  Bible,  has  been  brought  about  by  those  political 
events  which  are  fast  causing  the  depopulation  of  the  country  :  it  now  no  longer  num- 
bers men  sufficient  to  till  the  ground,  nor  can  the  people  raise  funds  adequate  for  the 
purpose.  Thus  does  man,  unwittingly,  bring  about  the  unerring  decrees  of  God.'"t 
Whether  this  land  shall  again  be  inhabited  by  the  descendants  of  Abraham,  as  a  pious 
and  prosperous  nation,  and  whether  its  fields,  which  have  lain  fallow  for  more  than 
sixteen  hundred  years,  shall  again  teem  wath  fruitfulness  and  plenty,  as  the  result  of 
their  labours,  are  questions  which  have  excited  great  interest  in  the  minds  of  Chris- 
tians in  eveiy  age. 

*  For  a  description  of  Palestine,  as  it  now  appears,  see  Dr.  Kitto's  "liand  of  Promise,"  published  by 
the  Reiigioiis  Tract  Society. 

t  Journal  of  a  four  in  the  Holy  Lar.'l. 


VII 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  43 


No.  VII. 


€^t  Mxm\\B  nf  tlie  ^psilt  ^niil;    ml  i\}t  $tmi 

Asia  Minor  is  the  name  given  by  ancient  geogi-aphers  to  the  lai-ge  peninsula  lying 
between  the  Black,  ^gean,  and  the  Mediterranean  Seas.  It  includes  many  countries 
associated  with  the  early  history  of  Christianity,  and  claims  particular  attention  as  the 
principal  scene  of  the  labours  of  the  apostle  Paul.  During  the  progress  of  ages  it  has 
fallen  under  the  sovereignty  of  the  various  great  empires  which  have  successively  arisen. 
At  the  division  of  the  kingdom  of  Alexander  the  Great,  it  w^as  assigned  to  Seleucus 
Nicator.  One  of  his  successors,  Antiochus,  in  the  year  200  b.c.  removed  thousands  of 
Jewish  families  from  Mesopotamia  to  Asia  Minor,  in  order  that  the  warlike  and  turbulent 
tribes  of  that  region  might  be  civilized  through  their  influence.  The  descendants  of 
these  Jews  were  called  "  the  dispersed  among  the  Gentiles,"  John  vii.  35,  and 
■'  Grecians,"  Acts  vi.  1, 

At  an  early  date  the  whole  western  coast  of  Asia  Minor  was  known  as  Ionia ;  in  the 
time  of  the  Eoman  empire  this  region  was  called  Proconsular  Asia,  while  the  term  Ionia 
was  applied  only  to  the  interior  parts  of  the  country.  Modern  Greece  was  called  Achaia, 
in  the  times  of  the  apostle  Paul,  (Acts  xviii.  27  ;  Piom.  xvi.  5  ;  2  Cor.  xi.  10) ;  having 
Corinth  for  its  capital  (2  Cor.  i.  1);  which  was  the  residence  of  a  proconsul,  (Acts 
xviii.  12.) 

St.  PauVs  first  missionary  journey  ^^&s  undertaken  a.d.  45.  Barnabas  and  his  nephew 
John  Mark  accompanied  him  in  this  apostolic  progress:  the  latter,  however,  after 
a  time  shrunk  from  the  toils  and  dangers  of  the  mission,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem. 
Seleucia,  from  whence  they  set  sail,  is  the  port  to  Antioch,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Orontes.  Thence  their  course  was  to  the  isle  of  Cyprus  in  the  Mediterranean,  where  at 
Salamis,  one  of  its  cities,  they  preached  the  gospel  to  the  people.  Passing  through  the 
island,  they  came  to  Paphos,  where  they  met  with  Elymas  the  sorcerer,  and  Sergius 
Paulus  the  governor.  About  this  time  Saul's  name  was  changed  to  Paul,  the  reason  of 
which  change  is  uncertain.  Sailing  from  this  island,  they  came  to  Perga,  in  Pamphylia, 
a  province  of  Lesser  Asia,  then  onward  to  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  where  the  apostles 
preached  to  the  idolatrous  inhabitants  with  great  success,  but  were  expelled  from  the 
city  through  the  influence  of  the  Jews.  They  now  proceeded  to  Iconium,  about  one 
hundred  miles  in  the  interior,  but  had  again  to  experience  the  rage  of  the  Jews  ;  driven 
out  by  persecution,  they  came  to  Lystra,  where  a  cripple  was  miraculously  healed,  and 
then  went  forward  to  Derbe.  After  preaching  the  gospel  there,  they  retraced  their  steps 
through  Lystra  and  Iconium,  passed  into  Pisidia,  Pamphylia,  Perga,  and  Attalia,  and 
from  thence,  by  sea,  to  Antioch  in  Syi'ia.  The  whole  tour  is  calculated  to  have  extended 
to  nearly  1400  miles,  and  to  have  occupied  one  year  and  a  half. 

During  the  long  time — not  less  than  three  years — that  Paul  and  Barnabas  abode  with 

the  disciples  at  Antioch,  it  seems  highly  probable,  if  not  demonstrably  true,  that  they 

made  a  journey  to  Jerusalem,  and  returned,  previous  to  setting  out  on  their  second  tour, 

Gal.  ii   1 — 10.*     The  object  of  this  \'isit  was  to  consult  the  apostles  and  elders  upon 

*  Tate's  Continuous  History  of  St.  Pa\il,  p.  23. 


a  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

the  question,  which  certain  converts  from  Judaism  had  raised  in  the  church  at  Antioch, 
whether  it  were  necessary  that  proselytes  from  heathenism  should  he  circumcised. 

Second  missiunary  journeij.  On  the  return  of  this  deputation  to  Antioch,  Paul  pro 
posed  to  Barnabas  to  undertake  a  second  tour,  and  visit  the  churches  they  had  formed 
during  their  first  journey.  They  were  unable  to  come  to  an  agreement  as  to  who 
should  accompany  them  ;  and  Paul,  taking  with  him  Silas,  entered  upon  his  journey 
without  his  former  comjianion.  The  range  of  country  traversed  was  far  more  extensive 
tlian  on  the  first  occasion.  The  apostle  proceeded  by  land  round  the  north-east  coast 
of  the  Mediterranean,  through  Cilicia,  his  native  country,  to  Derbe  and  Lystra,  where 
he  was  joined  by  Timothy.  His  course  was  now  into  the  large  and  populous  province 
of  Phrygia,  in  which  district  was  the  celebrated  city  of  Colossse.  From  this  place  he 
entei-ed  Galatia;  in  which  country  Neander  considers  that  he  had  the  remarkable 
vision,  accompanied  by  the  "thorn  in  the  flesh,"  to  which  he  refers  in  2  Cor.  xii.  1 — 10. 
Avoiding  Asia,  strictly  so  called,  he  went  by  a  circuitous  course  to  Philadelphia,  Sardis, 
and  Thyatira,  and  came  to  Troas  :  from  which  place,  where  he  was  joined  by  Luke  the 
physician  and  evangelist,  he  was  Divinely  directed  in  a  vision  to  cross  the  Hellespont 
into  Macedonia.  Landing  at  Neapolis,  he  passed  on  to  Philippi,  one  of  the  chief  cities 
of  that  region,  where  Lydia  and  the  Philippian  jailor  were  converted,  and  the  founda- 
tion of  a  church  was  laid  which  stands  forth  as  the  most  pure  of  all  the  apostolic 
churches.  He  next  passed  through  Amphipolis  and  Apollonia  to  Thessalonica,  the 
metropolis  of  Macedonia ;  but  from  whence  he  was  driven  by  an  uproar  of  the  Jews,  to 
Berea.  Here  Paul  was  for  some  time  favourably  received  by  the  Jews,  until  a  party 
from  Thessalonica  followed  him  and  aroused  their  malice  against  him.  After  some 
vicissitudes  of  missionary  life,  he  arrived  at  Athens,  where  his  spirit  was  stiiTed  within 
him  on  observing  the  whole  city  immersed  in  idolatiy,  and  he  addressed  the  Grecian 
philosophers  on  Mars'  Hill  on  the  folly  of  their  superstitions  and  the  character  of  the 
only  true  God.  On  leaving  Athens,  Paul  went  to  Corinth,  where  he  abode  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  supporting  himself  by  working  at  his  trade  of  a  tentmaker.  At  the  end  of 
this  time,  finding  himself  still  opposed  by  the  resident  Jews,  he  proceeded  homewards, 
calling  at  Ephesus  and  Csesarea,  and  from  thence  overland  to  Jerusalem,  which  made 
the  fourth  visit  to  that  city  since  his  conversion.  After  a  brief  stay,  he  hastened  to 
Antioch,  in  Syria,  after  an  absence  of  two  years  and  a  half,  where  he  joined  Barnabas 
and  other  fellow  labourers  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

Third  missionary  journeij.  The  third  tour  of  the  apostle  was  begun  by  visiting  the 
churches  of  Galatia,  Phiygia,  and  Ephesus.  At  the  latter  place  he  remained  for  nearly 
three  years,  and  preached  with  such  remarkable  success  as  to  provoke  the  wrath  of 
those  engaged  in  the  worship  of  the  goddess  Diana ;  at  the  instigation  of  Demetrius, 
who  enjoyed  a  lucrative  trade  in  the  manufacture  of  silver  images  of  the  idol  and  of  the 
heathen  temple,  he  was  compelled  hastily  to  depart.  On  leaving  Ephesus,  he  went  by 
wav  of  Troas  on  a  second  visit  to  Philippi.  Thence  he  passed  through  the  parts  about 
Illvricum,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Adriatic  Sea ;  then  back  to  Corinth  ;  but  finding 
his  enemies  among  the  Jews  were  lying  in  wait  to  assault  him  as  he  returned  to  Syria, 
he  changed  his  plan,  and  once  more  visited  Macedonia,  and  also  Troas,  at  which  latter 
place  he  raised  Eutychus  to  life.  Having  invited  the  elders  of  the  church  of  Ephesus  to 
meet  him  at  Miletus,  he  took  of  them  a  solemn  and  afi"ectionate  farewell.  Thence  he 
sailed  towards  Syria,  calling  at  Troas  and  Ptolemais.  On  his  arrival  at  Jenisalem  he 
was  violently  seized  in  the  temple,  under  the  false  charge  of  introducing  a  Gentile  into 
the  sacred  precincts,  and  was  conveyed  as  a  prisoner  to  Csesarea  for  safety.  In  this  city 
he  was  brought  before  Felix.     After  lingering  there  for  two  years  as  a  prisoner,  and 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  45 

after  repeated  examinations  before  Felix  and  Festus,  and  king  Agrippa,  the  last  of  the 
Herod  family,  Paul  was  conveyed  to  the  imperial  city  of  Rome,  to  prosecute  his  ap})eal 
oefore  Caesar. 

Voyaqe  to  Rome.  The  apostle  Paul  was  placed  along  with  other  prisoners  under 
the  charge  of  a  centiirion  named  Julius,  who  embarked  with  them  at  Coesarea. 
After  touching  at  Sidon,  they  were  forced  by  contrary  winds  to  pass  to  the  north 
of  the  island  of  Cyprus.  Favoured,  as  they  probably  were,  by  the  land  breezes  and 
currents,  they  arrived  at  Myra  in  Lycia,  then  a  flourishing  sea-port,  now  a  desolate 
waste.  The  centurion  here  found  a  ship  of  Alexandria,  loaded,  as  we  afterwards 
learn,  with  wheat,  bound  for  Italy,  in  which  he  embarked  the  prisoners.  Proceed- 
ing slow]}'  on  their  voyage,  and  with  adverse  winds,  they  came  to  Cnidus,  a  small 
town  on  the  south-western  promontory  of  Asia  Minor.  They  now  changed  their 
course,  crossing  over  to  the  island  of  Crete,  and  put  in  at  Fair  Havens — a  small, 
insecure  roadstead,  near  the  centre  of  the  southern  coast  of  this  island.  It  was  the 
month  of  October,  a  season  when  ancient  mariners  considered  navigation  to  be 
increasingly  hazardous;  it  was  accordingly  determined,  though  against  the  advice  of  the 
apostle,  to  attempt  to  reach  Phenice,  a  more  secure  winter  harbour  on  the  same  coast. 
A  moderate  breeze  from  the  south  having  sprung  up,  they  weighed  anchor,  cleared  the 
harbour,  and  had  every  prospect  of  reaching  their  destination  in  a  few  hours.  Sudden 
changes  of  wind,  however,  are  very  common  in  these  seas;  and  a  typhoon*  arose,  Avhich 
drove  the  ship  before  it,  towards  the  small  neighbouring  island  of  Clauda.  Fearing  that 
the  gale  would  force  them  on  a  lee  shore,  they  lightened  the  ship  and  lowered  their 
sails.  The  ship  now  became  unmanageable,  and  was  driven  about  in  the  Adriatic  Sea 
for  about  fourteen  days  ;  neither  sun  nor  stars  were  observed,  and  all  hope  of  being 
saved  was  at  an  end.  An  ancient  ship,  without  being  able  to  make  celestial  observa- 
tion, and  without  the  compass,  had  no  means  of  keeping  a  reckoning.  The  danger 
was  therefore  imminent ;  the  crew  were  exhausted  by  long  endurance,  labour,  and 
abstinence.  Probably  the  storm  had  destroyed  their  provisions,  or  at  least  had 
prevented  their  cooking  them.  The  ship,  with  nearly  three  hundred  souls  on  board, 
was  every  moment  in  danger  of  foundering.  At  length  it  was  borne  towards  land,  and 
was  run  on  shore  at  "  a  place  w'here  two  seas  met,"  to  avoid  being  forced  upon  the 
breakers.  The  traditional  locality  of  this  shipwreck  is  the  island  of  Melita,  the  Malta 
of  modern  geography,  and  which  recent  careful  investigation  has  proved  to  be  correct. 
St.  Paul's  Bay,  the  scene  of  this  disaster,  is  a  deep  inlet  on  the  north  side  of  the  island. 
The  ship,  it  is  supposed,  was  driven  on  the  west  side  of  the  bay,  which  is  rocky,  but 
which  has  two  creeks,  near  which  it  shortly  went  to  pieces.f  The  shipwrecked  party 
remained  for  three  months  on  the  island,  and  several  miraculous  cures  were  wrougbt 
by  the  apostle.  A  ship  which  had  wintered  at  IMelita  was  engaged  to  convey  them  on 
their  voyage.  They  first  sailed  to  the  large  and  beautiful  city  of  Syracuse,  the  principal 
place  in  the  island  of  Sicily,  and  from  thence  to  PJiegium  and  Puteoli,  seaports  in  Italy. 
At  the  latter  place,  which  is  sixty  miles  from  Piome,  the  apostle  tarried  with  Christian 
brethren  for  seven   days.      At  Appii  Forum  he  was  met  by  believers  from  Eome,  who 

*  The  Euroclydon,  or  tj-phoon,  is  a  tempest  accompanied  by  the  agitation  and  whirling  motion  of 
the  clouds,  caused  by  the  meeting  of  opposite  currents  of  air,  and  the  raising  of  the  sea  in  columns  of 
spray.  Modern  navigators  in  these  seas  call  it  the  Michaebnas  blast.  Pliny  in  describing  the  effects 
of  sudden  blasts,  says  that  they  caiise  a  vortex,  wliich  is  called  "ty]3hoon;"  and  Gellius,  in  his  account 
of  a  storm  at  sea,  notices  "frequent  whiriwinds,  and  the  di'eaded  appearances  in  the  clouds  which  they 
call  tyiihoons." — Smith's  Voyage  and  Shipwreck  of  St.  Paul. 

t  The  Voyage  and  Shipwreck  of  St.  Paul.     By  James  Smith,  Esq.,  f.k.s.     1848. 


46  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

had  come  out  forty-three  miles  to  comfort  and  encourage  him  on  his  way.  At  another 
station,  the  Three  Taverns  {taberncB,  houses  for  the  sale  of  food),  more  Roman  brethren 
came  to  him,  by  whom  he  was  much  refreshed.  From  this  place  he  was  can-ied  to  the 
imperial  city,  and  put  into  secure  custody  as  a  prisoner.  After  a  short  time,  he 
was  permitted  to  reside  in  his  own  hired  house,  guarded  by  a  single  soldier,  to  whom 
he  was  probably  chained, — a  mode  of  securing  prisoners  in  common  use  among  the 
Romans. 

The  fourth  and  last  journey  from  Rome  to  Jerusalem,  and  return  to  Home.  After  two 
years'  imprisonment  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  obtained  his  release  ;  the  particulars 
of  which,  and  the  whole  of  his  future  course,  lie  beyond  the  period  to  which  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles  brings  up  his  history.  Our  knowledge  of  his  progress  can  be  gleaned 
only  by  occasional  allusions  in  his  several  epistles  written  after  that  time.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  embarked  from  Brundusium,  the  port  from  whence  the  Romans  mostly 
sailed  for  Greece  and  Syria,  in  company  with  Timothy  and  Titus.  On  the  way, 
Timothy  was  sent  to  Philippi ;  and  Paul  passed  by  way  of  Crete  (where  he  left  Titus) 
towards  Jerusalem,  landing  at  Csaesarea.  In  his  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  (xiii.  23,)  which 
was  written  from  Rome,  he  had  expressed  his  hope  of  soon  again  visiting  Palestine 
From  Palestine  he  set  out  on  his  last  tour,  and  visited  Colossse,  Philippi,  Ephesus,  and 
other  cities,  the  scenes  of  his  former  labours,  and  then  passed  on  to  Rome  by  way  of 
Rhegium.*  In  the  summer  of  a.d.  65,  he  was  again  a  prisoner  in  the  imperial  city ; 
from  whence,  in  the  prospect  of  a  violent  death,  he  wrote  that  sublime  and  pathetic 
expression  of  his  confidence  in  the  faithfulness  of  his  Divine  Master,  which  is  contained 
in  his  second  epistle  to  Timothy  :  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 
kept  the  faith  :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 
Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day :  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all 
them  also  that  love  his  appearing,"  2  Tim.  iv.  6 — 8.  He  sufi"ered  martyrdom  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year. 

THE  SEVEN  CHURCHES  OF  ASIA. 

A  short  general  view  of  the  ancient  condition  of  these  churches,  with  the  present 
appearance  of  their  sites,  may  appropriately  follow  the  account  of  the  journeys  of  the 
apostle  Paul. 

Ephesus  (Rev.  ii.  1 — 7)  was  a  place  of  much  reno^^•n.  It  became  the  centre  of 
the  labours  of  St.  Paul,  and  the  chief  seat  of  Christianity  in  Asia  Minor.  The  church 
here  formed  was  at  its  commencement  in  a  state  of  considerable  pi-osperity;  but 
"  the  candlestick"  has  long  since  been  removed.  Only  a  few  Greek  peasants,  living 
in  extreme  poverty,  are  met  with  among  groups  of  splendid  ruins :  the  chief  ruins 
being  those  of  the  theatre,  memorable  for  a  tumult,  described  Acts  xix.  21 — 41. 
Travellers  have  sought  for  the  remains  of  the  famous  temple  of  Diana,  one  of  the  seven 
wonders  of  the  world,  and  which  was  two  hundred  years  in  building.  Of  its  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  magnificent  marble  pillars  not  one  can  now  be  found.  The 
mysteries  of  Diana  were  connected  with  the  arts  of  magic ;  and  Ephesus  was  the  chief 
seat  of  Jewish  and  heathen  witchcraft,  (Acts  xix.  19,)  to  which  the  apostle  probably 
alluded  when  he  enjoined  the  believers  to  put  on  the  whole  armoiu-  of  God  that  they 
might  resist  "  the  wiles  of  the  devil,"  (Eph.  vi.  11.) 

*  Foley's  Hora  Paulina!,  with  Birks'  Eorce  Apostolica,  published  by  the  Religious  Tract  Society; 
Tate's  Continuous  History  of  St.  Paul. 


THPJ  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  47 

Smyrna  (Rev.  ii.  8 — 11)  lies  at  the  head  of  a  deep  bay,  about  fifty  miles  from 
Ephesus  In  the  earliest  ages  this  city  "v^'as  of  great  commercial  importance,  and  is  the 
only  one  of  the  seven  cities  which  retains  its  former  prospei^ty.  Its  situation  is 
favourable  to  trade :  it  is  now  one  of  the  largest  towns  in  the  Turkish  empire,  and 
contains  a  population  of  134,000,  of  whom  25,000  are  members  of  the  Greek  and  other 
eastern  churches,  which  retain  a  corrupt  form  of  Christianity.  Smyrna  was  the  resi- 
dence of  Polycarp,  the  disciple  of  John.  He  was  buried  alive,  a.d.  1G6.  "When  required 
to  revile  Christ,  the  venerable  martyr  exclaimed,  "  Eighty  and  six  years  have  I  served 
Christ,  and  he  has  never  done  me  the  least  wrong :  how,  then,  can  I  blaspheme  my 
King  and  Saviour?" 

PerctAMOs  (Eev.  ii.  12 — 17)  was  the  capital  of  Hellespontic  Mysia,  and  situate  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Caicus,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  sea.  Its  ancient  importance 
may  be  inferred  from  its  possessing  a  library  of  .200,000  volumes,  which  Antony 
removed  to  Egypt,  and  presented  to  queen  Cleopatra.  It  was  also  famed  for  its 
serpent  or  devil  worship.  "  I  know  thy  works,  and  where  thou  dwellest,  even  where 
Satan's  seat  is."  At  the  present  day,  it  retains  some  remnant  of  its  ancient  importance, 
under  the  name  of  Bergamo.  The  modern  town  consists  of  small  and  mean  houses, 
among  which  appear  the  remains  of  early  Christian  churches,  "  like  vast  fortresses 
amidst  barracks  of  wood." 

Thtatira  (Piev.  ii.  18 — 29)  was  built  upon  a  fertile  plain,  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
Lycus,  between  Pergamos  and  Sardis.  It  still  exists  under  the  Turkish  name  of  Ak-his- 
sar,  or  "the  white  castle ;"  but  it  is  very  deficient  in  ancient  remains,  while  its  modern 
buildings,  for  the  most  part,  consist  of  mud  and  earth.  Its  inhabitants  are  still  noted 
for  their  skill  in  dyeing  puvple  or  scarlet  cloth.  Lydia,  a  seller  of  purple,  was  a  native 
of  this  city.  Acts  xvi.  14,  15,  40.  Many  nominal  Christians  are  found  here.  But  "the 
works,  and  charity,  and  service,  and  faith,  and  patience  of  this  faithful  church,"  says  Dr. 
Coleman,  "  have  no  longer  any  memorial  on  earth  except  the  commendation  contained 
in  the  epistle  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Thyatira." 

Sardis,  (Rev.  iii.  1 — 6,)  once  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  the  wealthy  Croesus,  and 
one  of  the  most  celebrated  cities  of  the  east,  is  now  a  miserable  village,  under  the 
modified  name  of  Sart,  It  was  about  sixty  miles  from  Ephesus,  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
TmoluB,  and  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Pactolus,  renowned  for  its  golden  sands.  "  The 
i-uins  of  the  city  bear  witness  that  the  Lord  has  come  upon  it  as  '  a  thief  in  the  night ; ' 
all  its  glory  has  passed  away.  The  black  tents  of  the  wandering  Turcomans  are 
scattered  through  the  beautiful  valley;  the  whistle  of  the  camel-driver  now  resounds  in 
the  deserted  palace  of  Croesus,  and  the  song  of  the  lonely  thrush  is  heard  from  the 
walls  of  the  old  Christian  church.  Schubert  found  there  only  two  Christian  millers,  in 
1836,  who  spoke  nothing  but  Turkish."* 

Philadelphia  (Rev.  iii.  7 — 13)  was  situate  about  twenty-five  miles  south-east  of 
Sardis,  upon  a  part  of  the  range  of  Mount  Tmolus,  and  commanding  a  magnificent  view. 
At  this  spot  there  are  still  to  be  seen  the  relics  of  a  noble  city,  running  up  the  sides  of 
an  irregular  hill,  called  by  the  Turks,  Allah  Shehr,  "the  beautiful  city,"  or,  "the  city  of 
God."  Among  the  ruins  are  four  strong  marble  pillars,  which  once  supported  the  dome 
of  a  Christian  church.  One  solitary  pillar  of  high  antiquity  has  been  often  noticed,  as 
reminding  the  beholder  of  the  remarkable  words  in  the  Apocalyptic  message  to  the 
church  at  Philadeli)hia, — "  Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of 
my  God."    It  is  estimated  that  about  1000  Greek  and  Armenian  Christians  reside  in 

*  Bai'th's  Biblical  Geography,  p.  340. 


48  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

the  miserably  built  houses  of  the  modern  town,  who  have  Divine  service  every  Sunday 
in  five  churches. 

Laodicea  (Bev.  iii.^4 — 22).  There  were  four  cities  of  this  name:  two  in  Asia  Minor 
and  two  in  Syria.  The  Laodicea  of  the  Bevelation  was  on  the  confines  of  Lydia  and 
Phrygia,  about  forty  miles  east  from  Ephesus.  There  is  not  one  of  the  cities  of  the 
seven  churches  of  which  the  overthrow  has  been  so  severe,  and  the  desolation  so  entire, 
as  Laodicea.  It  is  a  heap  of  ruins,  abandoned  entirely  to  the  owl  and  the  fox :  its 
remains  testify  alike  to  its  former  grandeur,  and  to  the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty  at 
the  departure  of  its  once  celebrated  church  from  the  faith.  "  Laodicea,"  says  a  recent 
traveller,  "  is  even  more  solitary  than  Ephesus :  for  the  latter  has  the  prospect  of  the 
rolling  sea,  or  of  a  whitening  sail,  to  enliven  its  decay,  while  the  former  sits  in 
widowed  loneliness  ;  its  walls  are  grass-growii,  its  temples  desolate  ;  its  very  name  has 
perished.  We  preferred  hastening  on,  to  a  further  delay  in  that  melancholy  spot,  where 
everything  whispered  desolation,  and  where  the  very  wind  that  swept  impetuously 
through  the  valley,  sounded  like  the  fiendish  laugh  of  Time  exulting  over  the  destruc- 
tion of  man  and  his  proudest  monuments."* 

The  contrast  of  the  present  wretched  condition  of  the  seven  cities  of  Asia  Minor, 
with  their  former  privileges  and  prosperous  state,  cannot  but  awaken  feelings  of  sadness 
and  sympathy.  They  once  enjoyed  the  light  of  the  gospel ;  they  are  now  laearly 
shrouded  in  spiritual  darkness,  or  in  a  state  of  ruin  and  desolation.  The  Divine  judg- 
ments have  overtaken  them,  and  they  stand  forth  as  impressive  instances  of  the  abuse 
of  the  day  of  visitation.  "  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  says  unto 
the  churches." 


No.  VIII. 

Ancient  Jkeusalem. — Jerusalem  is  celebrated  in  sacred  poetry  as  "  the  holy  city," 
"the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,"  and,  as  its  name  imports,  "the  habitation  of  peace."  Its 
history  is  identified  with  the  dearest  interests  of  mankind,  as  the  spot  where  for  ages 
Jehovah  manifested  his  peculiar  presence,  where  the  Son  of  God  was  ofi'ered  on  the 
cross  as  a  propitiation  for  sin,  and  from  whence  went  forth  that  gospel  which  is  to 
enlighten  and  bless  all  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

The  word  Jerusalem  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  Hebrew  jerush,  which 
signifies  "possession,"  and  shalem,  or  salem,  "peace."  Professor  Lee,  however, 
considers  it  to  come  from  Jebus-shalem,  that  is,  "the  treading  down  of  peace,"  a  name 
appropriate,  as  he  considers,  to  the  warlike  character  of  its  early  inhabitants. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  Jerusalem  was  an  inhabited  site  in  the  days  of  the 
patriarchs,  though  it  is  generally  considered  to  be  the  Salem  of  Melchizedek.f  There 
is  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  was  the  spot  to  which  Abraham  came  for  the  purpose  of 
offering  his  only  son  Isaac,  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  God.  It  may  be  therefore 
inferred,  that  a  portion  of  it  was  then  a  secluded  district,  and  well  suited  to  the  design 

*  Quoted  in  Professor  Stuart's  Apocalypse,  ii.  45. 

r  There  was  another  Salem  in  the  valley  of  the  Jordan,  and  a  third  near  Sychem. 


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THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  49 

of  the  patriarch.  The  whole  of  the  chister  of  mountains  on  wliicli  the  city  was 
afterwards  built  was,  in  Abraham's  days,  known  as  Moriah,  or  "vision,"  as  they  could 
be  seen  from  some  distance,  and  commanded  an  extensive  jDrospect,  especially  on  the 
south.  Gen.  xxii.  2,  4.  This  mountain  range  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Jebusites,  who  erected  a  fortress  on  Mount  Zion,  and  called  it  Jebus,  after  the 
name  of  their  forefather,  the  son  of  Canaan.  During  the  days  of  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and 
the  sojourn  of  their  descendants  in  Egypt,  the  Canaanites  rapidly  increased  to  a 
multitude  of  people ;  and  many  of  their  cities  were  built  where  the  patriarchs  had 
formerly  fed  their  flocks  :  among  which  cities  was  probably  Jerusalem.  On  the 
coming  up  of  the  IsraeUtes  from  the  wilderness,  it  appears  on  the  page  of  history  as  a 
place  of  some  importance.  Josh.  x.  ] — 4.  Joshua,  in  the  first  year  of  his  arrival  in 
Canaan,  defeated  Adonibezek,  king  of  Jerusalem,  and  twenty-five  years  afterwards  the 
children  of  Judah  attacked  and  burned  the  city.  Josh.  x.  '2 ;  Judges  i.  8.  This  latter 
event,  however,  must  refer  only  to  the  lower  city,  as  it  is  immediately  afterwards  stated 
that  the  Benjamites,  to  whom  the  place  was  allotted,  "  did  not  drive  out  the  Jebusites 
that  inhabited  Jerusalem  ;  but  the  Jebusites  dwelt  with  the  children  of  Benjamin  in 
Jerusalem,"  Judges  i.  21,  until  David  took  possession  of  the  city,  2  Sam.  v.  6 — 8.  Even 
after  that  time,  some  of  the  original  inhabitants  were  permitted  to  hold  their  lands,  as 
we  find  David  purchasing  of  Araunah,  a  Jebusite,  the  ground  upon  which  the  temple 
was  afterwards  erected,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  18 — 24. 

Jerusalem  now  became  known  as  "the  city  of  David;"  and  was  the  metropolis  of 
the  kingdom.  All  Hebrew  strangers,  from  whatever  part  of  the  country  they  came, 
had  the  privilege  of  the  rights  of  hospitality ;  to  which  custom  our  Lord  may  allude  in 
Matt.  xxvi.  18.  Solomon  enlarged  the  city,  enriched  it  by  costly  structures,  and 
surrounded  it  by  a  wall  (Millo).  He  also  erected  a  noble  causeway,  or  terrace,  over 
the  valley  lying  between  Zion  and  Moriah,  whereby  the  passage  from  his  palace  to  the 
Temple  was  rendered  more  convenient.  Another  building,  called  "the  house  of 
Millo,"  probably  because  placed  on  or  near  the  wall,  may  have  been  used  as  a  state- 
house,  or  city -hall,  and  employed  also  as  an  armoury  and  fortress  in  times  of  war. 

When  Jerusalem  became  the  capital  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  chosen  place  for  the 
worship  of  Jehovah,  every  means  were  used  to  render  it  impregnable,  by  high  walls, 
massive  gates,  and  towers.  Kings  Jotham,  Hezekiah,  and  Manasseh,  engaged  in  the 
erection  of  these  defences  with  much  zeal.  The  latter  king,  it  is  stated,  built  "a  wall 
without  the  city  of  David,  on  the  west  side  of  Gihon,  even  to  the  entering  in  at  the  fish- 
gate,  and  compassed  about  Ophel,  and  raised  it  up  to  a  very  great  height,"  2  Chron. 
xxxiii.  14.  With  this  exception,  the  successors  of  Solomon  did  not  materially  add  to 
the  strength  or  beauty  of  the  place. 

After  numerous  vicissitudes,  the  city  was  completely  overthro\vn  by  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and  the  inhabitants  carried  into  captivity.  On  the  return  of  the  Jews  in  the 
days  of  Ezra,  the  Temple  was  rebuilt  on  the  old  site ;  but  the  walls  were  not  restored 
until  some  time  after,  by  Nehemiah.  His  description  of  the  portions  of  the  work  is 
interesting,  though  few  of  their  localities  can  now  be  assigned.  Ophel,  the  quarter  of 
the  Nethinims,  or  servants  of  the  Temple,  was  again  inclosed ;  and  "  the  city  was  large 
and  great,  but  the  people  were  few  therein,  and  the  houses  were  not  builded,"  Neh. 
vii.  4.  The  state  of  Jerusalem,  from  the  times  of  Nehemiah  to  the  days  of  Herod  the 
Great,  cannot  now  be  traced,  though  probably  it  underwent  but  little  change. 

Josephus  is  the  highest  authority  we  possess  for  ascertaining  the  form  and  limits 
of  the  ancient  Jewish  capital.  He  says,  "The  city  was  built  on  two  hills,  which  are 
opposite  to  each  other,  having  a  valley  to  divide  them  asunder ;    at  which  valley  the 

E 


RO  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

corresponding  rows  of  houses  on  both  hills  terminate.  Of  these  hills,  that  which 
contains  the  upper  city  is  much  higher,  and  in  length  more  direct.  Accordingly  it  was 
called  '  the  citadel,'  by  King  David  :  he  was  the  father  of  that  Solomon  who  built  this 
Temple  at  the  first ;  but  it  is  by  us  called  'the  upper  market-place.'  But  the  other  hill, 
which  is  called  Acra,  and  sustains  the  lower  city,  is  of  the  shape  of  the  moon  when  she 
is  horned.  Over  against  this  there  was  a  third  hill,  but  naturally  lower  than  Acra,  and 
parted  formerly  fi-om  the  other  by  a  broad  valley.  In  the  time  when  the  Asmoneans 
reigned,  they  filled  up  that  valley  with  earth,  and  had  a  mind  to  join  the  city  to  the 
Temple.  They  then  took  off  part  of  the  height  of  Acra,  and  reduced  it  to  a  less 
elevation  than  it  was  before,  that  the  Temple  might  be  superior  to  it.  Now,  '  the  valley 
of  the  cheesemongers,' as  it  was  called,  was  that  which  distinguished  the  hill  of  the 
upper  city  from  that  of  the  lower,  and  extended  as  far  as  Siloam ;  for  that  is  the  name 
of  a  fountain  which  hath  sweet  water  in  it,  and  this  in  great  plenty  also.  But  on  the 
outsides  these  hills  are  surrounded  by  deep  valleys,  and,  by  reason  of  the  precipices 

belonging  to  them  on  both  sides,  are  everywhere  impassable As  the  city 

grew  more  populous,  it  gradually  crept  beyond  its  old  limits ;  and  those  parts  of  it 
that  stood  n'orthward  of  the  Temple,  and  joined  that  hill  to  the  city,  made  it  con- 
siderably larger,  and  occasioned  that  hill,  which  is  in  number  the  fourth,  and  is  called 
Bezetha,  to  he  inhabited  also.  It  lies  over  against  the  tower  Antonia,  but  is  divided 
from  it  by  a  deep  valley,  which  was  dug  on  purpose.  This  new-built  part  of  the  city 
was  called  Bezetha  in  our  language,  which,  if  interpreted  in  the  Grecian  languag.e,  may 
be  called  '  the  new  city.'  " 

Jerusalem,  in  the  time  of  the  Jewish  historians,  was  fortified  by  three  walls,  except 
where  the  abrupt  ravines  encircling  it  rendered  only  one  necessary.  The  first  or  most 
ancient  Avail  began  at  the  tower  of  Hippicus,  running  round  the  heights  of  Mount 
Zion,  along  the  ridge  of  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  across  the  Tyropoeon,  by  the  pool  of 
Siloam,  as  far  up  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  as  the  modern  well  of  the  Virgin,  whence  it 
ascended  to  the  eastern  comer  of  the  Temple.  From  Hippicus  it  descended,  on  the 
other  hand,  along  the  ridge  of  the  Tyropoeon,  separating  Zion  from  Acra,  down  to  the 
western  cloisters  of  the  Temple;  it  then  was  continued  along  the  edge  of  the  valley,  down 
to  Hinnom,  near  Siloam,  forming,  in  fact,  the  oi-iginal  wall  of  Mount  Zion  before  Acra 
was  added.  Thus  this  wall  inclosed  the  whole  of  the  city  as  it  existed  in  the  times  of 
Da\dd  and  Solomon.  The  course  of  the  second  wall  has  been  subjected  to  more  con- 
troversy than  any  other  point  of  the  topography  of  the  city.  The  Jewish  historian 
describes  it  as  starting  from  the  gate  Genath,  apparently  near  the  tower  of  Hippicus, 
and  encircling  the  northern  quarter  of  the  city,  as  far  as  the  castle  of  Antonia.  The 
division  thus  inclosed  communicated  with  the  Temple  by  flights  of  steps  and  causeways. 
It  was  doubtless  the  chief  seat  of  business,  as  in  the  present  day.  Here  were  crowded 
together  the  narrow  streets  of  the  various  craftsmen,  among  which  streets  many  of  the 
soldiers  of  Titus  were  entangled  and  slain.  On  the  eastern  part  of  this  wall  were  two 
towers,  Hananeel  *  and  Meah.f  They  were  square,  twenty  ells  above  the  wall,  and 
two  hundred  yards  apart.  It  was  without  this  wall,  probably  on  the  northern  side,  that 
the  crucifixion  of  our  Lord  took  place.  Keipert  and  others  commence  the  western  wall 
from  near  the  gate  of  Ephraim,  and  bring  it  in  a  direct  line  southwards ;  thus  limiting 
Acra,  and  placing  the  traditional  Golgotha  outside  the  walls.  The  Roman  lines  of  cir- 
cumvallation,  together  with  the  camp  of  Titus,  are  thus  also  brought  to  a  spot  which, 
according  to  Dr.  Thenius'  plan,  is  within  the  city.  (See  the  Map.)  The  third,  or  outer 
wall,  did  not  exist  in  the  time  of  Christ,  but  was  built  shortly  after,  by  Agrippa,  to 
*  Jcr.  xxxi.  38;  Zech.  xiv.  10.  t  Neli.  iii.  1,  xji.  39. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  51 

inclose  a  populous  suburb  which  had  extended  itself  to  the  north  :  it  was  not  completed 
with  the  strength  the  builder  originally  designed.  It  commenced  also  at  the  tower  of 
Hippicus,  and  ran  northwards  to  the  tower  of  Psephinus  on  the  extreme  west.  It 
thence  swept  round  east,  and  then  south,  to  the  old  wall  in  the  valley  of  Kidron.  The 
tower  of  Antonia  is  placed  by  Josephus  at  a  short  distance  from  the  north-west  comer  of 
the  Temple  area,  and  described  as  standing  on  a  rock,  exactly  answering  to  the  present 
site  of  the  governor's  house.  It  was  strong  and  capacious,  communicating  with  the 
outer  court  of  the  Temple,  and  divided  by  a  deep  trench  from  the  suburb  of  Bezetha  on 
the  north.  * 

Several  stones  in  the  ancient  wall,  on  the  Tyropoeon  side,  have  obtained  much  atten- 
tion from  recent  travellers.  They  are  in  three  courses,  and  are  evidently  the  springing 
stones  of  a  large  arch.  Their  size  is  enormous,  one  being  twenty  and  a  half  feet  long, 
another  twenty-four  and  a  half,  and  the  rest  in  like  proportion.  These  are  referred  by 
Bartlettto  the  time  of  Herod;  but  Eobinson,  who  was  the  first  to  direct  attention  to  these 
interesting  remains,  conjectures  that  they  are  as  old  as  the  days  of  Solomon,  probably 
forming  a  part  of  the  viaduct  with  which  he  connected  his  palace  with  the  Temple.  "Not 
a  hundred  yards  further"  from  these  mighty  relics,  "  to  the  north,  is  a  spot,  immediately 
under  the  wall,  and  quite  concealed  from  observation,  where  the  Jews  have  purchased 
permission  from  the  Turks  to  approach  the  boundary  of  the  Temple,  to  wail  over  the 
desolation  of  Judah,  and  implore  the  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  their  God."f 

In  the  original  wall  constructed  at  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  were  ten  gates.  There 
is  some  difficulty  in  assigning  them  to  their  respective  positions.  The  following 
arrangement  is  chiefly  from  Eaumer  : — On  the  north  side.  1.  The  Old  gate,  at  the  north- 
east comer.j  2.  The  gate  of  Ephraim,  or  Benjamin. §  This  gate  derived  its  name 
from  its  leading  to  the  territories  of  these  tribes ;  and  Dr.  Robinson  supposes  it  may  be 
represented  by  some  traces  of  ruins  which  he  found  on  the  site  of  the  present  gate  of 
Damascus.  3.  The  Corner  gate  ;||  probably  the  same  as  the  tower  of  the  Fiu'naces.lF — On 
the  west  side.  4.  The  Valley  gate,  over  against  the  Dragon  fountain  of  Gihon,**  near 
the  north-west  corner  of  Zion. — On  the  south  side.  5.  The  Dung  gate,  ff  (probably 
identical  with  "  the  gate  between  two  walls, "|| )  so  called  because  of  the  refuse  of  the 
beasts  retained  for  sacrifice  being  carried  through  it  from  the  Temple.  6.  The  gate  of 
the  Fountain, §§  near  to  the  pool  of  Siloah. — On  the  east  side.  7  The  Water  gate,  |||| 
near  which  the  water  used  in  the  sendee  of  the  Temple  was  emptied  into  the  Kidron. 
8.  The  Horse,  otherwise  the  Prison  gate,1I^  near  the  Temple.  9.  The  Sheep  gate,*** 
supposed  to  have  been  so  called  from  the  victims  intended  for  sacrifice  being  led  through 
it.  10.  The  Fish  gate,-|-ff  on  the  north-east,  may  be  that  through  which  the  supplies  of 
fish  were  brought  from  the  sea  coast.  The  whole  compass  of  the  city,  according  to 
Josephus,  was  rather  more  than  four  miles. 

The  TOWEES  of  Jerusalem  are  noticed  in  Scripture, ^|t  and  may  also  be  referred  to  under 
the  term  "bulwark."§§§  Josephus  describes  that  of  Hippicus,  which  existed  in  the  time 
of  Christ.  It  was  erected  by  Herod  the  Great,  who  gave  to  it  the  name  of  a  friend 
who  had  been  slain  in  battle.  The  v/hole  height  was  about  140  feet.  Dr.  Robinson 
and  Eanmer  point  out  the  foundations  of  a  tower  near  the  modern  Jaffa  gate,  as  those 

*  Bartlett's  Walks  about  Jerusalem,  pp.  30,  36.     f  Ibid.  p.  141. 

;  Neb,  iii.  6,  xii.  39.    •  §  Jer.  xxsviii.  7  ;  Neb.  xii.  9  ;  2  Cbron.  xxv.  23. 

|]  2  Cbron  xxvi.  9  ;  Zeeb.  xiv.  10.  f  Neb.  iii.  11,  xii.  38. 

**  Neb.  ii.  13,  iii.  13  ;  2  Cbron.  xxvi.  9.  ft  Neb.  ii.  13,  xii.  31. 

XI  2  Kings  xxv.  4 ;  Jer.  xxxix.  4.  §§  Neb.  ii.  14,  iii.  15.  ||||  Neb.  iii.  26. 

11^  Neb.  iii.  28,  xii.  39.  ***  Neb.  iii.  1,  xii.  39.  ftt  Neb.  iii.  3  ;  Zepb.  i.  10. 

Jtt  2  Cbron.  xxvi.  9,  15 ;  Psa.  xlviii.  12.  §§§  Psa.  xlviii.  13. 

k2 


5Q  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

that  probably  belonged  to  this  erection.  The  tower  of  Psephinus  was  built  after  the 
time  of  our  Lord,  by  Herod  Agrippa.  It  was  of  an  octagonal  form,  120  feet  high.  It 
stood  upon  a  high  swell  of  the  ground,  and  formed  a  landmark  to  a  considerable 
distance  of  countiy.  The  castle  of  Antonia  was  built  by  John  Hyrcanus,  and  repaired 
by  Herod.  Here  a  garrison  was  stationed,  after  Palestine  became  a  Koman  province, 
to  watch  the  proceedings  of  the  Jews  in  the  Temple,  which  building  it  overawed,  and 
with  which  it  communicated  by  secret  passages.  The  interior  of  this  castle  was  probably 
the  Pretorium,  or  judgment  hall ;  and  in  front  of  it  was  the  "  Pavement,"  where  Pilate 
pronounced  sentence  on  our  Saviour.  -  Besides  these,  there  were  the  towers  of  Meah 
and  Hananeel,  already  noticed,  and  numerous  others  along  the  whole  line  of  defence. 

No  particular  street  in  Jerasalem  is  mentioned  in  Scripture,  excepting  the  bakers' 
street.f  From  this  expression,  and  from  Neh.  iii.  32,  it  would  seem  that,  in  the  ancient 
citv,  as  in  most  oriental  towns  at  the  present  day,  men  of  the  same  occupation  inhabited 
the  same  quarter.  Josephus  mentions  the  "street  of  the  cheesemongers."  The  word 
translated  "street"  in  two  passages, t  properly  signifies  open  spaces  around  the  gates. 

The  PALACE  of  Solomon,  called  "  the  house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon"  on  account  of 
the  multitude  of  cedars  used  in  its  erection,  stood  on  Mount  Zion.  On  the  same  hill,  in 
later  times,  stood  the  palace  of  Herod,  a  magnificent  edifice,  which  was  destroyed,  with 
the  other  public  buildings,  by  the  Romans. 

Eeservoirs  and  pools  were  constructed  in  different  parts  of  the  city  and  its  neighbour- 
liood.  This  was  the  more  necessary  as  the  whole  region  in  which  Jerusalem  stood  was 
destitute  of  any  great  ninning  stream,  and  the  rivulets  were  diy  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year.  The  remains  foimd  in  the  present  day  show  the  extensive  arrange- 
ments made  for  an  ample  supply  of  this  necessary  of  life.  A  large  tank  in  the  loAver 
city  is  attributed  to  Hezekiah,  who  "made  a  pool,  and  a  conduit,  and  brought  water  into 
the  city,"  2  Kings  xx.  20.  It  is  evidently  of  great  antiquity.  An  aqueduct  brought  a 
copious  stream  from  Solomon's  pools,  near  Etham,  to  the  Temple,  which  supplied  the 
waters  necessary  for  the  ceremonial  senrices ;  and  it  still  serves  for  the  same  purpose  to 
the  mosque  of  Omar.  The  pool  commonly  known  to  travellers  as  that  of  Bethesda  is  a 
long  excavation.  It  is  now  nearly  filled  with  rubbish,  and  probably  has  not  contained 
any  water  for  centuries.  At  the  north  end  of  this  basin  are  two  unequal  arches,  foiTQing 
a  covered  way,  which  are  conjectured  to  be  the  remains  of  the  "five  porches"  that  gave 
shelter  to  the  "impotent  folk"  while  waiting  for  the  "  troubling  of  the  water."  The 
pool  of  Siloam,  or  Shiloah,  lay  at  the  extremity  of  the  Tyropoeon  valley,  near  the  foot  of 
Mount  Zion.  Its  water  now  issues  from  a  rock,  twenty-five  feet  below  the  ground,  to 
which  there  is  a  descent  by  steps.  Here  it  flows  out,  clear  as  crystal,  and  winds  its  way 
several  rods  under  the  mountain;  then  makes  its  appearance  as  a  gurgling,  refreshing  rill, 
and  takes  its  way  south-eastward  down  the  valley,  answering  to  the  description,  "the  waters 
of  Shiloah  that  go  softly,"  Isa.  viii.  6.  It  has  been  ascertained  by  the  persevering  labours 
of  Dr.  Eobinson,  that  the  stream  descends  to  this  pool  from  the  fountain  of  the  Virgin, 
higher  up  the  valley,  by  means  of  a  channel  cut  through  the  rocky  hill  of  Ophel.  To 
this  pool  of  Siloam  our  Lord  sent  a  blind  man  to  wash,  for  the  recovery  of  his  sight  by 
miraculous  power,  John  ix.  7.  The  fountain  of  the  Virgin  is  so  called  from  the  notion 
that  the  Virgin  Mary  here  washed  the  clothes  of  her  blessed  Son.  Its  waters  are 
intermitting:  "  sometimes  the  bottom  of  the  basin  is  bare  and  nearly  diy,  when  suddenly 
the  water  reappears,  flowing  in  with  a  strong  current,  and  rising  rapidly  to  the  height  of 
several  feet."§     There  is  historical  and  other  evidence  which  goes  to  establish  the  fact, 

*  Johnxviii.  28,  xix.  9.  t  Jer.  xxxvii.  21. 

;  2  Chron.  xxxii.  6 ;  Neh.  viii.  1,  3.  ^  Dr.  Olin's  Travels. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  53 

that  there  is  a  great  reservoir  at  a  considerable  depth  below,  where  the  Temple  court  was 
situated,  move  abundantly  supplied  formerly  than  at  present,  and  that  from  thence  are 
subterraneous  channels,  which  once  largely  supplied  the  waters  to  several  fountains  and 
reservoirs.*  The  fountain  of  Nehemiah,  as  it  is  called  by  Christians,  but  by  the  natives, 
the  fountain  of  Job,  is  about  fifty  rods  below  the  pool  of  Siloam.  It  measures  125  feet  hi 
depth,  though  the  water  seldom  rises  to  more  than  half  that  height.  It  is  apparently  of 
great  antiquity  :  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  is  identical  with  the  En-rogel  of  2  Sam. 
xvii.  17 ;  1  Kings  i.  9.  In  ancient  times  the  upper  and  lower  pools  of  Gihon  also  yielded 
considerable  supplies  of  water :  they  are  now  in  a  ruinous  state,  and  quite  diy.  The 
latter  of  these  pools  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  Dragon  well  of  Nehemiah,  before  the 
Valley  gate.  Neb.  ii.  13;  though  generally  this  is  referred  to  the  fountain  of  the  Virgin. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  decide  as  to  most  of  the  particular  localities  of  the  ancient 
city.  The  present  surface  of  the  ground  is,  in  many  parts,  covered  to  a  great  depth 
with  the  accumulated  ruins  of  ages.  As  an  instance  of  this  it  may  be  stated,  that  a  few 
years  since,  when  seeking  a  foundation  for  a  Protestant  church  on  Mount  Zion,  super- 
incumbent rubbish  to  the  depth  of  twenty-five  feet  was  dug  through  before  reaching  the 
solid  rock.f  The  Jerusalem  of  sacred  history  is,  in  fact,  no  more.  Not  a  monument 
or  vestige  of  the  capital  of  David  and  Solomon  exists,  if  we  except  the  foundation 
stones  already  noticed. 

MoDEEN  Jerusalem.  "Were  a  person,"  says  Mr  Joliffe,  "placed  blindfold  in  the 
centre  of  Jerusalem,  or  on  any  of  the  hills  which  overlook  the  city,  nothing  perhaps 
would  exceed  his  astonishment  on  the  sudden  removal  of  his  bandage.  From  the 
centre  of  the  neighbouring  elevations,  he  would  see  a  wild,  rugged,  mountainous 
desert — no  herds  depasturing  on  the  summit,  no  forests  clothing  the  acclivities,  no 
water  flowing  through  the  valleys ;  but  one  rude  scene  of  melancholy  waste,  in  the 
midst  of  which  the  ancient  glory  of  Judea  bows  her  head  in  widowed  desolation.  On 
entering  the  town,  the  magic  of  her  name,  and  all  his  earliest  associations,  would  suffer 
a  still  greater  violence,  and  expose  him  to  still  stronger  disappointment.  No  '  streets 
of  palaces  and  walks  of  state,'  no  high-raised  arches  of  triumph,  no  fountains  to  cool 
the  air,  or  porticoes  to  exclude  the  sun ;  no  single  vestige  to  announce  its  former 
military  greatness  or  commercial  opulence ;  but,  in  the  place  of  these,  he  would  find 
himself  encompassed  on  every  side  by  walls  of  rude  masonry,  the  dull  uniformity  of 
which  is  only  broken  by  the  occasional  protrusion  of  a  small  grated  Avindow." 

All  travellers  agree  in  their  representations  of  the  impressions  produced  by  the  first 
view  of  the  holy  city,  so  singular  in  situation  and  sacred  in  hallowed  associations  ;  as 
they  also  do  in  the  feelings  of  disappointment  on  becoming  familiar  with  its  streets 
and  dwellings.  For,  beautiful  as  Jerusalem  appears  in  the  distance,  the  illusion  is 
dissipated  on  entering  the  gates.  As  the  stranger  traverses  the  irregular  and  almost 
forsaken  streets,  meanness,  misery,  and  filth  appear  on  every  side.  Very  few,  if  a»y,  of 
the  streets  bear  names  among  the  native  population.  Some  ai'e  a  succession  of  arched 
avenues ;  in  others  the  opposite  houses  nearly  meet  at  the  top,  or  a  canopy  of  old  mats 
and  planks  is  placed  across,  and  so  low,  as  scarcely  to  allow  an  equestrian  to  pass 
beneath  them.  The  footpaths  are  only  partially  paved,  and,  in  many  instances,  ai^e  as 
rugged  and  as  steep  as  a  mountain  road,  and  so  narrow,  that  two  loaded  camels  can 
with  difficulty  pass  one  another.  The  few  shops  have  a  dirty  and  desolate  appearance  : 
the  only  signs  of  business  are  at  the  bazaars,  if  we  except  the  sale  of  beads,  crosses, 
and  other  objects  of  superstitious  regard,  which  are  purchased  by  the  pilgrims  who 
*  Kitto's  Modern  Jerusalem.  t  Dr.  Olin's  Travels,  ii.  254. 


64  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

annually  resoi't  to  the  city.  The  outsides  of  the  private  houses,  though  sti'ongly  built 
of  limestone,  are  exceedingly  mean,  more  particularly  those  in  the  Jewish  quarter,  with 
their  narrow  windows,  masked  and  guarded  with  iron  bars  towards  the  street,  and 
wooden  casements  within.  Nor  do  the  insides  of  these  dwellings  remove  the  dis- 
agreeable sensations  made  by  the  exterior.  "A  large  number  of  houses  in  Jerusalem 
are  in  a  dilapidated  and  ruinous  state.  Nobody  seems  to  make  repairs  so  long  as  his 
dwelling  does  not  absolutely  refuse  him  shelter  and  safety.  If  one  room  tumble  about 
his  ears,  he  removes  into  another,  and  permits  rubbish  and  vermin  to  accumulate  as 
they  will  in  the  deserted  halls.  Tottering  staircases  are  propped  to  prevent  their  fall ; 
and  when  the  edifice  becomes  untenantable,  the  occupant  seeks  another  a  little  less 
ruinous,  leaving  the  wreck  to  a  smaller  or  more  wretched  family,  or  more  probably  to  a 
goatherd  and  his  flock.  Habitations  which  have  a  very  respectable  appearance  as  seen 
from  the  street,  are  often  found,  upon  entering  them,  to  be  little  better  than  heaps  of 
ruins."*  "Throughout  the  whole  place,  there  is  not  one  symptom  of  either  commerce, 
comfort,  or  happiness."!  "  Under  Turkish  rule,  no  one  dreams  of  finding  regulations 
and  appliances  for  the  convenience  or  safety  of  the  public.  No  lamp-posts,  no  water- 
pipes,  no  names  of  streets,  no  numbered  houses,  no  drains  or  se"wers,  no  scavengers 
but  dogs  and  jackals,  no  coaches  or  carriers'  carts.  Everybody  is  expected  to  provide 
for  himself."^  "At  every  step  you  are  reminded  of  that  prophecy,  'Jerusalem  shall  be 
trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles.'  "§  And  now,  "  destitute  of  any  interest  but  that 
connected  with  the  past,  the  traveller  gladly  hastens  from  the  dulness  and  misery 
within  her  walls,  to  the  lonely  hills  around,  where  there  is  nothing  to  disturb  the 
picture  of  the  momentous  events  brought  before  him  by  his  imagination."!! 

Jerusalem  is  now  universally  called  Kouds,  by  the  Mohammedans,  which  signifies 
"  holy."  The  city  that  now  is,  appears  of  an  irregular  shape.  It  is  surrounded  by  a 
high  embattled  wall,  which  is  generally  of  a  compact  limestone.  It  has  six  gates,  one 
of  which  looks  to  the  west,  and  is  called  the  gate  of  Bethlehem,  because  the  road  to 
this  place  passes  through  it.  On  the  north  are  the  gates  of  Damascus  and  Herod :  the 
latter  is  now  closed.  On  the  east,  leading  to  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  and  the  Mount 
of  Olives,  is  St.  Stephen's  gate,  near  which,  it  is  said,  the  proto-martyr  was  stoned  to 
death.  On  the  same  side  is  the  Golden  gate,  filled  up  with  solid  masonry,  and 
"  flanked  with  a  tower,  on  which  a  Mohammedan  soldier  is  constantly  on  guard ;  for 
the  Turks  have  a  tradition  that  by  this  gate  the  Christians  will  one  day  enter  and 
obtain  possession  of  the  city."ir  Looking  to  the  south  is  Zion  gate,  or  the  gate  of  the 
prophet  David :  it  is  nearly  opposite  to  the  mosque  built  over  the  supposed  site  of  the 
tomb  of  the  royal  psalmist. 

Most  travellers  get  their  first  view  of  Jerusalem  from  the  Mount  of  Olives,  which 
lies  within  half  a  mile  east  of  the  city  walls.  Standing  on  a  part  of  the  brow  of  the 
hill  which  is  traditionally  said  to  be  the  spot  on  which  om'  Lord  stood  when  he  beheld 
the  city,  and  wept  over  it,  the  whole  of  Jerusalem  spreads  out  to  the  sight  like  a  map, 
every  considerable  edifice,  and  almost  every  house,  being  visible.  The  whole  is  as  an 
inclined  plane,  sloping  gently  from  east  to  west,  and  indented  by  a  slight  depression 
nearly  through  the  centre  in  the  same  direction,  and  seems  as  though  built  on  one 
continuous  hill,  standing  out  singly  from  the  midst  of  the  surrounding  mountains. 
The  vast  assemblage  of  domes  and  tuiTets  which  adorn  the  roofs  of  the  convents, 
churches,  and  houses,  gives  to  the  place  an  external  air  of  grandeur :  of  these  domes 

*  Kitto's  History  of  Modern  Jenisalem.  f  Sir  F.  Henniker's  Journey. 

J  Dr.  Rae  Wilson's  Travels  in  the  Holy  Land.        §  Eev.  J.  Jowett's  Christian  Researches. 

IJ  Bartlett's  Walks  about  Jerusalem.  IT  Stephen's  Incidents  of  Travel. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  5r. 

none  seem  more  splendid  than  that  of  the  mosque  which  has  usurped  the  place  of  the 
ancient  Temple.  • 

Among  tlie  public  edifices  is  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  built  over  the 
traditional  site  of  Calvary.  ■  The  locality  of  the  crucifixion,  however,  is  strongly 
contested.  Some  writers  favour  the  claims  of  this  spot,  chiefly  on  the  ground  that  the 
early  Christians  must  have  well  known  the  real  Calvary,  at  the  time  when  Constantine 
erected  the  original  church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre ;  while  some,  on  the  other  hand, 
urge  the  topographical  difficulty,  that  this  site  is  now  far  within  the  walls,  and  that  it 
cannot  be  shown  that  it  was  ever  otherwise  than  within  the  city,  whereas  we  are 
distinctly  taught  that  Christ  "  suff"ered  without  the  gate,"  Heb.  xiii.  12.  "  The  ascent  to 
the  [traditional]  mount  of  Calvary  is  by  a  staircase  cut  in  the  rock :  its  form  is  almost 
entirely  disfigured  by  marble  and  decorations.  The  holes  of  the  crosses,  evidently 
spurious,  are  beneath ;  and  there  is  a  fissure  in  the  rock,  said  to  have  been  produced 
by  the  earthquake.  These  contrivances  tend  both  to  produce  disgust,  and  to  weaken 
our  faith  in  the  locality."*  It  is  at  times  the  scene  of  most  disgraceful  conflicts 
between  the  adherents  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  churches,  and  to  the  scandal  of  religion, 
even  in  the  judgment  of  Jews  and  Turks.  The  "place  called  Calvary"  is  sometimes 
assigned,  though  very  arbitrarily,  to  the  outside  of  the  second  wall,  on  Llount  Bezetha. 
The  mosque  of  Omar,  with  its  extensive  area,  verdant  lawn,  and  gi'oups  of  olive  and 
cypress  trees,  is  the  most  handsome  object  in  modern  Jerusalem.  It  occupies  nearly 
one-eighth  of  the  whole  city.  This  splendid  Turkish  sanctuary  occupies  the  site  of  the 
Temple  of  Solomon  ;  but  it  is  forbidden  ground  to  both  Jew  and  Christian.  Beneath 
the  platform  of  the  mosque  are  some  concealed  crypts,  supposed  to  be  part  of  the 
original  basement  laid  on  Mount  ]\Ioriah,  on  which  to  rear  the  lofty  groundwork  of  the 
"  house  of  the  Lord." 

The  citadel  and  the  great  Armenian  convent  occupy  that  part  of  Mount  Zion 
included  within  the  present  walls  The  citadel  lies  on  the  northern  brow  of  the  hill. 
It  incloses  within  its  ancient  outworks  a  portion  of  the  celebrated  tower  of  Hippicus, 
which  was  saved,  at  the  command  of  Titus,  from  sharing  in  the  general  destruction  of 
the  city.  Between  the  citadel  and  the  Ai-menian  convent  is  the  Protestant  episcopal 
church  of  St.  James.  On  the  outside  of  the  wall  is  a  mosque,  which  is  said,  by  the 
Mohammedans,  to  be  built  over  the  grave  of  David.  Another  part  of  the  hill  is 
occupied  by  some  small  convents,  and  the  remainder  of  Zion  has  become  a  ploughed 
field.f  Dr.  Kae  Wilson  and  Dr.  Clarke  found  part  of  it  laid  out  as  arable  land,  and 
the  ploughmen  actually  at  Avork,  turning  up  the  soil  of  the  spot  which,  in  ancient  days, 
was  covered  with  houses  The  Rev.  R.  Herschell  saw  a  crop  of  barley  growing  on 
the  mountain. 

The  Jewish  quarter  adjoins  the  rugged  slopes  of  Zion :  "  here  their  wretched  and 
ruinous  habitations  are  crowded  together,  without  the  slightest  regard  to  cleanliness  or 
comfort."  They  number  5000  individuals,  and  possess  several  synagogues.  The 
Armenians  live  round  their  convent ;  and  the  Greeks  and  Eoman  Catholics  have  their 
houses  near  to  Calvary.  The  Turks  and  Arabs  chiefly  occupy  the  more  airy  and  open 
district  of  Bezetha,  and  also  have  their  dwellings  scattered  in  every  quarter.  The  petty 
political  intrigues  of  these  various  classes  "  constitute  the  only  life  in  the  holy  city 
Each  of  them  hates  and  despises  the  others,  and  would  willingly  be  rid  of  them,  unless 
indeed  they  can  be  made  a  soin^ce  of  profit."  The  total  population  is  about  15,000. 
In  addition  to  this  number,  there  is  a  Turkish  garrison  of  800  men,  and  at  the  time  of 

*  Bartlett's  Wcoits  about  Jerusalem.  +  ^licali  m.  12. 


50  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Easter  a  great  influx  of  pilgrims.     The  Jews  bury  on  Olivet,  the  Mohammedans  on 
Moriah,  and  the  Christians  on  Zion.  ^ 

Environs.  "Mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalenv"  Psa.  cxxv.  2.  The  Mount 
of  Olives,  or  Olivet,  so  celebrated  both  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  rises  on  the 
east  of  the  city.  It  is  three  hundred  feet  above  Moriah,  and  towers  one  hundred  feet 
above  the  highest  point  in  the  city.  It  is  two  miles  in  length,  and  stretches  from 
north  to  south.  It  rises  with  considerable  steepness  over  against  the  city.  On  its 
eastern  side  is  the  town  of  Bethany,  where  the  Saviour  found  a  temporary  home  in  the 
house  of  pious  and  devoted  friends.  Not  far  ofi",  and  still  on  the  mount,  are  the  ruins  of 
the  village  of  Bethphage,  to  which  place  the  disciples  were  sent  for  a  colt,  on  that 
memorable  occasion  when  our  Lord  made  his  last  visit  to  the  guilty  metropolis  of 
Judea.  The  site  of  this  place  has  latterly  been  satisfactorily  traced  by  Dr.  Olin.  A 
few  olive  trees  yet  maintain  their  ground  on  the  mount:  their  gnarled  branches  and 
hollow  trunks  prove  them  to  be  very  aged.  A  path  winds  down  the  hill  to  a  square 
space,  inclosed  by  an  ordinary  stone  wall,  which  was  fixed  on  by  early  tradition  as  the 
garden  of  Gethsemane.  "  Giving  myself  up,"  says  Dr.  Ptobinson,  "  to  the  impressions 
of  the  moment,  I  sat  down  here  for  a  time,  alone,  beneath  one  of  the  aged  trees.  All 
was  silent  and  solitary  around  :  only  a  herd  of  goats  were  feeding  not  far  off,  and  a  few 
flocks  of  sheep  grazing  on  the  side  of  the  mountain.  High  above  towered  the  dead 
walls  of  the  city ;  through  which  there  penetrated  no  sound  of  human  life.  Here,  or  at 
least  not  far  off,  the  Saviour  endured  that  '  agony  and  bloody  sweat,'  which  v/as 
connected  with  the  redemption  of  the  world  ;  and  here,  in  deep  submission  he  prayed, 
'  0  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  away  from  me  except  I  drink  it,  thy  will  be 
done.'"*  The  southern  peak  of  Olivet  is  known  as  the  Mount  of  Offence,  because  it  is 
supposed  to  be  the  spot  where  the  idolatrous  wives  of  Solomon  built  a  temple  to  their 
god  Chemosh.  On  a  neighbouring  ridge  is  the  modem  village  of  Siloam,  consisting 
of  a  number  of  Arab  families,  who  have  built  their  plaster  huts  against  the  side  of  a 
m^ountain,  or  have  made  themselves  dwellings  by  creeping  into  the  rocky  sepulchres, 
where  the  bodies  of  the  nobles  of  Judah  were  once  placed  with  funereal  pomp. 

The  "  hill  Gareb"  (Jer.  xxxi.  39)  lay  at  the  north-western  corner  of  the  ancient  city. 
Dr.  E.  Henderson  supposes  the  word  to  be  derived  from  a  Hebrew  verb,  signifying  "to 
scratch  or  scrape,"  and  that  it  designates  the  locality  to  which  lepers  were  removed,  as 
they  were  not  allowed  to  remain  in  the  city.f 

Opposite  Zion  is  the  "  Hill  of  Evil  Counsel."  It  obtains  its  name  from  a  tradition 
that  the  high  priest,  Caiaphas,  had  here  a  country-house,  at  which  the  Jews  took 
counsel  to  destroy  Jesus.     On  the  top  of  the  hill  are  the  ruins  of  a  small  village. 

The  valleys  running  between  the  mountains  are  of  no  gi-eat  breadth.  On  the  west 
is  the  valley  of  Gihon,  with  a  continuation  known  as  the  valley  of  Hinnom.  It  is  a 
deep  and  narrow  dell,  with  rocky  and,  precipitous  sides.  It  sweeps  around  Mount  Zion, 
and  descends  with  great  rapidity  into  the  deeper  valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  Near  to  the 
juncture  of  the  valleys  there  is  a  spot  to  which  Jerome  assigns  the  place  of  Tophet, 
where  the  Jews  practised  the  horrid  rites  of  Baal  and  Moloch.  It  was  probably  in 
allusion  to  the  fires  which  were  here  piled  for  the  destruction  of  children,  that  the  later 
Jews  applied  one  of  the  names  of  this  valley  (Gehenna)  to  denote  the  place  of  future 
punishment,  or  the  fires  of  hell.  Near  this  spot  is  the  traditionaiy  Aceldama,  or  field 
of  blood,  of  the  traitor  Judas.  It  is  a  small  plot  of  ground,  overhung  with  one 
precipice,  and  looking  down  another  into  the  gloomy  glen  below.  "At  the  junction  of 
*  Biblical  Researches,  i.  347.  t  Henderson  on  Jeremiah,  p.  178. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  57 

the  Hinnom  with  the  valley  of  Kidron,  which  is  nearly  at  right  angles,  there  is  a  level 
space  of  several  acres,  laid  out  in  gardens,  and  well  set  with  trees  :  this  rich  and 
beautiful  spot,  watered  by  Siloam,  was  called  '  the  King's  Dale,'  or,  Garden."*  Here 
Adonijah  was  proclaimed  king,  2  Sam.  xvii.  17.  It  is  "the  prettiest  and  most  fertile 
place  around  Jerusalem. "f 

The  rocky  sides  of  the  hills  forming  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  descend  precipitously, 
and  are  adorned  with  many  straggling  olive  trees.  Most  of  these  rocks  are  hevm.  into 
sepulchres  of  various  forms  and  sizes,  and  with  considerable  care.  One  of  them  passes 
for  the  tomb  of  Zechariah,  and  a  second  for  Jehoshaphat 's  ;  while  a  square  detached 
erection  is  called  the  tomb  of  Absalom.  No  doubt  they  are  ancient  places  of  sepulture: 
they  are  noAv  often  the  resting-places  of  benighted  passengers,  or  the  homes  of  destitute 
Arabs.  The  channel  of  this  valley  is  the  brook  Kidron  of  the  Scriptures.  It  is  in  tlie 
present  day  nothing  more  than  the  dry  bed  of  a  wintry  torrent,  bearing  marks  of  being 
occasionally  swept  over  by  heavy  volumes  of  water,  which  descend  into  it  from  the 
neighbouring  hills.  After  passing  by  Jerusalem,  the  brook,  when  flowing,  finds  its  way 
into  the  Dead  Sea.  Dr.  Rae  Wilson  saw  the  Kidron  at  a  time  when  a  regular  stream 
of  water  filled  the  channel,  occasioned  by  the  autumnal  rains.  He  says  that,  at  such  a 
season,  it  rushes  with  great  impetuosity.  | 

Those  who  desire  particulars  respecting  Jerusalem  and  its  suburbs  will  find  much 
valuable  information  in  the  works  of  Eobinson,  Wilson,  Kitto,  and  others.  They  all 
furnish  a  variety  of  particulars  which  afifectingly  confirm  the  fulfilment  of  the  Divine 
predictions  against  this  highly-favoured,  yet  guilty  city.  It  has  been  "  given  into  the 
hands  of  strangers  for  a  prey,  and  unto  the  wicked  of  the  earth  for  a  spoil."  "All  that 
pass  by  clap  their  hands  at  thee ;  they  hiss  and  wag  their  head  at  the  daughter  of 
Jerusalem,  saying,  Is  this  the  city  that  men  call  The  perfection  of  beauty,  The  joy  of 
the  whole  earth?"  Lam.  ii.  15.  "0  Jerusalem,  Jemsalem,"  exclaimed  the  pitying 
Saviour,  "thou  that  killest  the  prophets,  and  stonest  them  which  are  sent  unto  thee,  how 
often  would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens 
under  her  wings,  and  ye  would  not!  Behold,  your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate," 
Matt,  xxiii.  37,  38.     "  From  the  daughter  of  Zion  all  her  beauty  is  departed,"  Lam.  i.  6. 

The  Rev.  John  Hardy  observes,  that  the  prophecies  concerning  Judea  and  Jerusalem 
have  been  so  exactly  accomplished,  that  they  may  now  be  read  as  actual  history.  Some 
of  the  most  striking  of  these  prophecies  are  to  be  found  in  Lev.  xxvi. ;  Deut.  xxix.  22 — 
24;  Isa.  i.,  vi.,  xxiv.,  xxxii.  9;  Jer.  iv.  20,  &c. ;  xii.  xviii. ;  Ezek.  vii.  21;  xii.  17 — 20; 
Dan.  ix.  27. 


No.  IX 

AND  THE  ADJACENT  COUNTRIES. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  accompanying  map,  that  Palestine  may  be  divided  into  four 
regions,  distinguished  by  climate,  vegetation,  and  general  aspect.  Three  of  these 
regions  form  long  strips  of  land  nearly  parallel  with  each  other  and  with  the  coast. 

*  Paxton's  Letters  from  Palestine,  p.  123.  t  Robinson's  Researches,  i.  490. 

X  Travels,  i,  244. 


— — 1 

58  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  \ 

1.  The  Great  Valley  and  Kegion  of  DErREssioN  extends  from  the  sources  of  tlie 
Jordan  to  the  Gulf  of  Akaba.  Its  general  elevation  is  from  500  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  ocean  to  1300  feet  below  it.  It  is  the  hottest  part  of  the  Holy  Land,  the  mean 
annual  temperature  being  70°  to  75°.  This  great  central  basin  includes  the  waters  of 
Merom,  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  the  whole  valley  of  the  Jordan,  the  Dead  Sea,  and  the 
Wady  el  Arabah.  Towards  this  basin  all  the  principal  valleys  incline,  and  into  it  the 
waters  of  the  eastern  slopes  flow. 

The  Waters  of  Merom,  or,  according  to  its  modern  name,  Bahr  el  Huleh,  is  a  lake 
of  a  triangular  shape,  six  or  eight  miles  broad  at  its  base,  though  it  varies  at  difterent 
seasons.  Its  surface  in  many  places,  especially  the  northern  part,  is  covered  with  a 
marsh  plant,  having  very  broad  leaves.  As  the  lake  narrows  towards  the  outlet,  the 
plain  on  the  west  widens,  forming  a  beautiful  and  very  fertile  champaign.  On  the 
north,  its  waters  are  skirted  by  a  large  marshy  tract,  densely  covered  with  shrubs,  reeds, 
and  rushes,  through  which,  the  Arabs  assert,  neither  man  nor  beast  can  penetrate,  and 
which  is  the  resort  of  wild  fowl  and  animals.*  In  con3e(j[uence  of  the  higher  level  o* 
the  lake  Huleh,  and  the  rocky  and  narrow  character  of  its  channel,  the  Jordan  flows 
down  to  the  lake  of  Tiberias  with  considerable  rapidity  and  noise  The  banks  are 
thickly  overhung  with  groves  of  the  plane  and  oleander  trees. 

The  Lake  of  Tiberias,  known  also  as  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  and  the  Lake  of  Gennesaret, 
and  Chinneroth,  lies  652  feet  below  the  level  of  the  ocean.f  It  is  twelve  miles  in 
length,  and  six  in  breadth.  Lofty,  irregular  ridges  surround  it  on  every  side,  which 
break  abruptly  dowia  to  form  the  bed  of  the  lake.  The  mountains  on  the  east  are  very 
bold,  and  so  continue  on  that  side  with  little  interruption.  On  the  west,  small  and 
beautiful  vales  and  charming  defiles,  irrigated  by  streams  of  water,  separate  the  heights. 
The  water  is  deep,  clear,  and  pure,  and  abounds  with  excellent  fish.  Its  flow  is  swift 
and  silent.  The  margin  presents  flocks  of  storks,  ducks,  and  pelicans;  and  occasionally 
vultures  and  eagles  heavily  flap  their  broad  wings  over  its  expanse.  Dr.  Clarke  speaks 
of  the  uncommon  grandeur  of  the  surrounding  scenery,  and  compares  it,  for  picturesque 
beauty,  with  the  lakes  of  Westmoreland  and  Italy.  Dr.  Eobinson  gives  a  less  glowing 
description.  "  The  lake  presents,  indeed,"  says  he,  "  a  beautiful  sheet  of  limpid  water, 
in  a  deep,  depressed  basin,  from  which  the  shores  rise,  in  general,  steeply  and  continu- 
ously all  around,  except  where  a  ravine,  or  sometimes  a  deep  wady,  occasionally 
interrupts  them.  The  hills  are  rounded  and  tame,  with  little  of  the  picturesque 
in  their  form  :  they  are  decked  by  no  shrubs  nor  forests ;  and  even  the  verdure  of 
the  grass  and  herbage,  which  earlier  in  the  season  might  give  them  a  pleasing 
aspect,  was  already  gone  ;  they  are  now  [in  June]  only,  naked  and  dreaiy."  This 
sea,  though  generally  calm,  is  still  subject  to  whirlwinds  and  sudden  gusts  from 
the  openings  in  the  mountains,  as  in  ancient  times,  Luke  viii.  23,  24.  The  Jordan 
maintains  its  course  through  the  middle  of  the  lake,  and  may  be  traced  by  a  line  of 
smooth  water  through  its  centre. 

The  River  Jordan  is  a  venerated  stream,  identified  with  many  of  the  leading  events  in 
Old  Testament  histoiy,  and  remarkable  in  the  New  Testament  as  the  scene  of  the 
baptism  of  our  Lord.  This  chief  of  Syrian  rivers  rises  under  the  lofty  peaks  of  the 
Anti-Libanus,  and  flows  in  a  direction  almost  wholly  southward,  flowing  through  the 
lake  of  Tiberias,  and  onward  to  the  Dead  Sea.     Its  present  Arabic  name  means  "  the 

*  Bibliotheca  Sacra,  1846. 

t  Lieutenant  Sj-monds,  in  Ids  trigonometrical  survey,  makes  it  only  328  feet ;  and  further  states, 
that  the  difference  between  this  lake  and  the  Dead  Sea  is  984  feet,  giving  a  fall  of  16-4  feet  in  every 
geographical  mile. —  Bibl.  Sacra,  1848. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


50 


!vatering-place,"  to  which  the  epithet  "  great"  is  sometimes  prefixed.  The  first  and 
most  eastern  som-ce  of  the  Jordan  is  named  Banias  ;  a  second  and  principal  source  i« 
about  twenty  miles  above  Ctesarea  Phi- 
lippi.-       This  latter  streamlet  flows  for  '■=«fe^«3;         -^r' 

the  first  three  miles  through  a  narrow 
and  lovely  valley,  and  then  pursues  a 
southern  course,  joined  by  several  small 
tributary  streams,  whose  united  waters 
form  the  lake  el  Huleh.  About  ten  miles 
further  on,  the  Jordan  flows  with  some 
power  into  the  lake  of  Tiberias.  Lieu- 
tenant Lynch,  who  published  the  first 
authentic  account  of  this  river,  frc  m 
actual  survey,  describes  it,  after  leaving 
the  lake,  as  pursuing  a  serpentine  course, 
so  that,  in  making  a  distance  of  sixty  miles 
in  a  direct  line,  its  short  and  frequent 
windings  extend  to  200  (other  accounts 
make  it  113)  miles  in  length.  This 
officer  met  with  twenty-seven  rapids, 
some  of  them  fearful  and  dangerous:  in 
other  parts  the  water  dashed  from  side  to 
side,  as  if  it  would  break  through  the 
rocky  barriers  that  formed  its  shores. 
Towards  the  end  of  its  course,  the  flow  of 
the  Jordan  becomes  more  gentle,  though 
its  meanderings  continue  the  same.  An- 
ciently, at  certain  seasons,  it  overflowed 
its  banks,  1  Chron.  xii.  15;  Jer.  1.  44;  and  ^ 
at  the  present  day  it  rises  in  height  nine  "'■ 
to  ten  feet,  between  the  months  of  Janu- 
ViXj  and  March — a  height  sufficient  to  pro-  ^■^^'^  -^'^^ 
duce  an  extensive  inundation  were  the 
channel  not  so  deep  as  it  is.  The  spaces  between  the  outer  and  inner  banks,  on  each 
side,  which,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year  are  dry,  and  overgrown  with  thickets 
of  bushes  and  reeds,  are  the  hiding-places  of  wild  beasts,  until  the  yearly  rising  of  the 
waters  compels  them  to  fly  ;  whence  the  expression,  to  "  come  up  like  a  lion  from 
the  swelling  of  Jordan,"  Jer.  xlix.  19.  The  common  name  of  the  great  valley  through 
which  the  Jordan  flows  is  el  Ghor,  signifying  a  depressed  tract  or  plain,  usually  betw^een 
two  mountains ;  and  the  same  name  continues  to  be  applied  to  the  valley  across  the 
whole  length  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  for  some  distance  beyond.  "  This  valley,"  says 
Dr.  Richardson,  "through  its  whole  course  is  bounded  by  a  chain  of  mountains  on 
each  side.  On  the  east  they  rise  almost  perpendicularly  from  the  bed  of  the  river ; 
but  on  the  west  there  is  a  fine  fertile  vale,  averaging  about  half  or  three  quarters  of 
a  mile  in  breadth,  between  the  water  and  the  mountain.  On  the  north  of  Tiberias,  the 
hills  retire  in  a  kind  of  arch,  forming  a   small  triangular  plain  of  great  beauty  and 


THE  COURSE  OF  THE  JORBAN. 


*  Buckiiardt  says  that  one  of  the  streams  or  spiings  still  bears  the  name  of  Dan,  or  Dhan,  and  that 
the  ancient  name  of  the  Banias  was  Jor  ;  hence  the  name  Jordan. 


60 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


-1 


fV'rtility,  and  well  watered  by  a  pure  limpid  stream  :  this  is  the  ancient  "  land  of  Gen- 
nesaret"  (Mark  vi.  53,)  and  the  modern  el  Ghuweir,  or  "  Little  Ghor." 

The  Bead  Sea  lies  deep  in  this  region  of  depression,  being  131-2  feet  below  the  level 
of  the  Mediterranean.  It  is  known  in  Scripture  as  the  "sea of  the  plain,"  the  "salt  sea," 
and  the  "  east  sea."*  Its  collection  of  waters  is  forty  miles  long,  and  six  to  eight  wide, 
e.xcept  in  one  place,  where  it  is  contracted  to  only  two  by  a  broad  peninsula  projecting 
from  the  eastern  shore.  South  of  this  point,  the  sea  is  very  shallow,  so  that  in 
summer,  in  consequence  of  evaporation,  the  body  of  water  falls  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
feet  to  less  than  one  ;  and  this  end  of  the  sea  at  such  seasons  becomes  an  offensive 
marsh.  The  scene  at  all  times  is  one  of  unmixed  dreariness.  Unstirred  by  the  wind, 
the  sluggish  waters  seem  a  "  vast  caldron 
of  metal,  fused,  but  motionless."  "  I  liave 
visited  many  scenes  of  desolation,"  says 
Mr.  Hardy,  "but  this  surpasses  them 
all:  yet  this  very  spot,  'we  are  assured 
by  Scripture,  was  once  'as  the  garden  of 
the  Lord.'  "  The  shores  present  a  sterile 
and  forbidding  aspect;  in  some  parts  the 
mountains  appear  one  black  mass  of 
lava.  Some  of  the  stones  on  the  shore, 
observes  Dr.  Kobinson,  "  partially  ignite 
in  the  fire,  and  emit  a  bituminous  smell." 
Bitumen,  or  asphaltum,  in  large  pieces, 
is  found  in  various  places,  which  has 
given  to  this  sea  its  Roman  name  Asphal- 
tites.  The  warm  fountains,  the  hot 
sulphur  springs,  and  the  appearance  of 
every  object  around,  testify  to  the  volcanic 
character  of  the  whole  region.  Masses 
of  crystallized  fossil  salt  rise  to  fifty  feet 
in  height,  and  are  several  hundred  feet 
in  length.  Lieutenant  Lynch  found  at 
the  western  side  of  the  lake  a  pillar  of 
salt,  forty-three  feet  high,  resting  on  a 
kind  of  oval  pedestal. f  The  waters  of 
this  sea  are  bitter,  nauseous,  and  Salter 
than  the  ocean  :  no  living  thing  inhabits 
them.  Only  in  three  instances  have  they 
been  known  to  be  navigated  by  man ;  and 

then  one    of   the    adventurers   was    found  The  figures  denote  the  depths'in  fathoms. 

dying  on  the  shore;  and  a  second,  immediately  after  his  return,  sunk  under  a 
fever  brought  on  by  the  heat  and  exertion  to  which  he  was  exposed.  The  latter 
explorator,  lieutenant  Molyneux,  experienced  several  storms  during  the  two  days  he 
spent  on  its  waters.     At  the  end  of  his  brief  voyage  "everythmg  in  the  boat  was  covered 

*  Gen.  xiv.  3  ;  Deut.  iii.  17  ;  Numb,  xxxiv.  3  ;  Josh.  xv.  5;  Ezek.  xhii.  18  ;  Joel  ii.  20. 

t  This  pillar,  or  a  similar  one,  is  mentioned  bj^  Josephus  and  early  Cliristian  ■v^Titers,  and  was  an 
object  of  search  by  various  travellers  ;  the  curious  discovery  was  made  by  Mr.  Lynch.  The  judgment 
of  God  overtook  Lot's  -wife  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  sea,  while  this  pillar  is  on  the  western.  Literest- 
ing,  then,  as  it  may  be  as  a  natui-al  emiosity,  and  as  an  illustration  of  Scripture,  it  must  not  be  pre- 
sumed to  be  the  identical  pillar  mentioned  m  the  sacred  niurative. 


THE 

DfL\D  SEA 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  61 

with  a  nasty  slimy  substance:  iron  was  singularly  corroded,  and  looked  as  if  covered 
in  patches  with  coal  tar  ;  and  the  effects  of  the  salt  spray,  by  lying  upon  the  skin,  and 
getting  into  the  eyes,  nose,  and  mouth,  produced  constant  thirst  and  drowsiness,  and 
took  away  all  appetite.*  It  has  been  observed,  that  although  the  Dead  Sea  is  constantly 
receiving  large  supplies  of  water  from  the  Jordan  and  other  streams,  and  has  no  visible 
outlet  by  which  they  may  be  discharged,  it  yet  preserves  the  same  level.  This  singular 
fact  is  accounted  for  by  the  evaporation  occasioned  by  the  intense  heat  of  the  region, 
which  occasions  the  mists  and  vapours  described  by  early  travellers  as  the  smoke  from 
the  caldron  of  the  sea.  The  appearance  of  the  bed  of  these  deadly  waters,  and  of  the 
suiTounding  district,  bears  ample  evidence  that  the  whole  (or,  as  Dr.  Eobinson  sup- 
poses, the  southern  part  only)  has  sunk  down  by  some  extraordinary  convulsion  ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  affectingly  illustrates  and  confirms  the  account  of  the  overthrow  of 
the  guilty  cities  of  the  plain,  Deut.  xxix.  23. 

Pursuing  our  course  along  the  depression,  we  find  at  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  Dead  Sea  "  the  valley  of  salt,"  a  saline  morass,  whose  stagnant  waters  and 
impure  exhalations  render  the  whole  neighbourhood  peculiarly  unhealthy.  Still 
further  south  is  a  range  of  rugged  rocks,  called  in  Scripture  Acribbim,  or  "  scorpions," 
Numb,  xxxiv.  4;  Josh.  xv.  3.  Not  far  from  thence  are  some  chalky  cliffs  which 
divide  el  Ghor  from  el  Arabah. 

The  Wady  el  Arabah  extends  southwards  nearly  105  miles,  and  joins  that  branch 
of  the  Eed  Sea  known  as  the  Gulf  of  Akaba.  Its  western  side  is  limited  by  a  lofty 
line  of  cliffs,  forming  an  abutment  to  the  great  western  desert,  which  lies  at  the 
height  of  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred  feet  above  the  bed  of  this  valley.  Its  bed  is  a 
sandy  desert,  five  or  six  miles  in  width,  and  its  water-shed  is  at  el  Sateh,  which 
runs  obliquely  across  the  desert  valley.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  this  immense 
crevasse,  (as  this  rent  in  the  earth's  surface  is  geologically  called,)  stretching  from 
sea  to  sea,  "  deep,  dreary,  and  desolate,"  was  totally  unknown  to  modern  geographers 
and  travellers  until  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  As  the  scene  of  some 
of  the  most  remarkable  incidents  in  the  exodus  of  the  Israelites,  it  claims  particular 
attention.! 

II.  The  Region  of  the  Ptains  adjacent  to  the  Shore.  This  elevation  ranges 
from  one  to  one  thousand  feet.  Mean  annual  temperature  65°  to  70°.  The  sea- 
coast,  to  which  the  name  of  Palestine  more  properly  belongs,  lies  low,  and  the 
entrance  to  most  of  its  streams  and  bays  is  choked  with  sand.  Few  good  landing 
places  are  found  along  the  coast.  Gsesarea  once  had  a  commodious  harbour,  but 
it  is  now  barred  with  reefs  of  sand,  and  even  small  vessels  are  compelled  to  lie  at 
anchor  at  the  mouth  of  the  small  river  Arsuf.  The  rest  of  the  shore  as  far  as 
Joppa  affords  no  secure  anchorage.  The  northern  portion  of  this  coast  is  known 
as  the  vale  of  Leontes,  Avhich  ends  at  the  lofty  peaks  of  the  Eas-el-Bayad.  This 
headland  is  the  termination  of  a  range  of  hills  that  stretches  from  Safed.  South 
of  this  is  another  mountain,  el  Nakura,  from  which  point  the  coast  becomes  more 
level.  Around  the  bay  of  Acre  the  hills  recede,  so  as  to  form  a  beautiful  broad 
plain,  of  a  semicircular  shape,  and  ten  miles  in  diameter.  The  town  of  Acre, 
anciently  Accho,  stands  on  an  angular  promontory,  jutting  into  the  sea.  The 
opposite  or  southern  point  of  the  bay  is  formed  by  Mount  Carmel.  The  sceneiy 
from  Beirut  to  Tyre  is  described,  for  the  most  part,  as  simple  and  uninteresting. 
On  the  one  hand  is   the  sea,  and   on  the  other  a  line  of  low  hills.     From   Tyre  to 

*  Journal  of  the  Royal  GeograpMcal  Society,  1848. 
t  Coleman's  Historical  Geogi-aphy  of  the  Bible. 


GO,  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

Carrael  the  country  is  more  picturesque.  The  latter  spot  especially  is  noted  as 
"a  fruitful  field,"  which  its  name  signifies.  From  its  heights  various  streamlets 
flow  gently  down,  and  evergreen  meadows  and  vineyards  adorn  its  sides.  Numerous 
wild  animals  resort  to  its  woodlands  ;  and  "  large  flocks  of  birds,  attracted  by  the 
abundance  of  food,  and  by  the  waters  which  wind  through  the  neighbouring  valleys, 
enliven,  by  their  harmony  of  song,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  in  the  Holy 
Land."  On  the  north  of  Carmel  is  the  plain  of  Esdraelon,  in  Scripture  called 
Megiddo  and  the  plain  of  Jezreel,  and  which  has  been  termed  by  Dr.  Clarke  "  the 
battle-field  of  nations,"  from  the  numerous  conflicts  of  armies  which  have  here 
been  witnessed  from  the  days  of  Barak  to  those  of  Buonaparte.  Its  direction  is 
south-easterly ;  and  it  is  divided  from  the  plain  of  Acre  by  a  narrow  defile,  through 
which  the  Kishon  makes  its  way.  This  stream  is  almost  dry  in  summer,  but  during 
the  rainy  season  it  flows  with  great  breadth  and  force. 

From  Carmel  to  Joppa  (Jaflfa)  the  first  part  of  the  plain  is  covered  with  brush- 
wood, in  which  there  are  herds  of  wild  boars.  It  then  becomes  cultivated,  and 
opens  "  on  the  rich  pasture  land  of  the  vale  of  Sharon,  clothed  with  luxuriant 
verdure  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  The  white  clover  springs  spontaneously,  and 
among  a  variety  of  shrubs  and  flowers  are  a  few  dwarf  tulips.  There  is  nothing 
now  bearing  the  appearance  of  what  is  called  a  rose,  except  the  cistus  roseus  of 
Linnseus,  which  grows  abundantly.  This  tract  of  land,  glorious  as  it  is  to  the 
eye,  is  yet  deficient  of  water  in  its  central  parts,  and  for  this  reason  appears  not 
to  be  [much]  frequented  even  by  the  Arabs.  The  grass  and  flowers  spring  to  waste 
their  sweetness,  and  to  fall  unseen ;  and  the  storks,  striding  to  and  fro,  are  the 
only  animals  by  which  they  are  visited.  The  soil  is  light,  and  the  surface  elastic  ; 
and  the  uneven  foreground  swells  into  hills  to  the  east,  which  are  backed  by  the 
mountains  of  Samaria  beyond."*  Such  is  the  scene  early  in  spring,  but  by  June 
the  grass  and  the  flowers  are  gone.  Buckingham,  who  crossed  this  tract  in  winter, 
describes  it  as  presenting  an  unattractive  appearance.  Indeed,  tlie  northern  portion 
is  at  all  times  arid  and  sandy,  but  the  further  it  extends  southward  it  improves. 

A  few  hills  separate  Sharon  from  the  plain  of  Sephela — once  the  country  of 
the  Philistines.  The  soil  of  this  district  is  described  by  Dr.  Kobinson  as  good, 
and  yielding  fair  crops  of  gi'ain.  Shortly  after  the  traveller  has  passed  this  plain, 
a  perceptible  struggle  commences  between  the  sand  and  grass.  At  length,  all 
appearance  of  cultivation  is  at  an  end,  and  only  drifting  sands  meet  the  eye  in 
every  direction. 

III.  The  Tablelands,  comprising  the  elevated  regions  on  both  sides  of  the  valley 
of  the  Jordan.  Elevation  from  2000  to  3000  feet.  Mean  annual  temperature  60°  to 
65°.  Starting  from  the  noi'thern  point  of  the  tablelands,  mount  Safed,  in  Galilee,  first 
attracts  the  notice  of  the  traveller.  This  isolated  peak  reaches  an  altitude  of  2770 
feet.  The  ancient  town  that  stood  on  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  "  city  set  on 
an  hill,"  to  which  the  Saviour  drew  the  attention  of  his  disciples  during  the  delivery 
of  the  sennon  on  the  mount.  The  modern  city  is  visible  from  a  great  distance  on 
every  side  except  the  north ;  while  the  neighbouring  valleys  are  deep,  and  lie  much 
below  the  level  of  the  ocean.  "  The  declivity  from  the  central  hills  of  Galilee  towards 
the  great  valley  of  the  Jordan  is  formed  by  a  succession  of  narrow  plains,  rising 
one  above  another  from  the  valley  of  that  river.  Here  the  soil  is  everj'where  a  fine 
black  mould,  deep,  free  from  stones,  and  appearing  in  such  a  climate  capable  of 
almost  any  production,  were  but  the  hand  of  man  applied  to  it."f  Tabor  is  the 
•  Monroe's  Summer  Rambles  in  Syria.  f  Kitto's  History  of  Palestine. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  63 

loftiest  mountain  in  lower  Galilee,  and  one  of  the  most  striking  in  Palestine.  A 
path  winds  around  the  mountain,  and  gives  a  view  from  all  its  different  sides,  eveiy 
step  presenting  something  new,  and  more  and  more  beautiful.  Stripped  of  eveiy 
association,  and  considered  merely  as  an  elevation  commanding  a  view  of  extensive 
valleys  and  mountains,  it  well  repays  the  toil  of  ascending  it.*  At  the  north-westei-n 
point  from  Tabor  is  the  vale  of  Nazareth.  It  is  a  kind  of  hollow  or  basin,  formed 
by  inclosing  hills.  "  It  seems,"  says  Dr.  Kichardson,  "  as  if  fifteen  mountains  met 
to  form  one  inclosure  for  this  delightful  spot :  they  rise  around  it  like  the  edge  of  a 
shell  to  guai'd  it  from  intrusion.  It  is  a  rich  and  beautiful  field  in  the  midst  of 
barren  mountains.  It  abounds  in  fig-trees,  small  gardens,  and  hedges  of  the  prickly 
pear,  and  the  dense  grass  affords  an  abundant  pasture." 

The  mountains  of  Samaria  are  chiefly  of  limestone,  very  hard,  and,  like  all  lime- 
stone strata,  are  filled  with  caverns,  to  which  caverns  reference  is  frequently  made 
in  Scripture.  The  valleys  of  Samaria  are  generally  deep  ravines,  much  narrower 
and  steeper  than  those  of  Judea.  Mount  Ephraim  is  a  tract  of  high  land,  which 
runs  from  north  to  south,  in  the  division  of  the  country  formerly  belonging  to  the 
tribe  of  Ephraim.  The  western  slope  forms  an  almost  unbroken  range.  Eastward  it 
terminates  by  a  steep  descent  towards  the  Jordan.  It  is  a  well  wooded  and  rather 
fruitful  district.  At  the  extremity  of  this  ridge  is  Neby  Samuel,  to  which  the  prophet 
Samuel  convened  the  Israelites,  and  where  the  Philistines  met  with  a  decided  over- 
throw, 1  Sam.  vii.  2 — 10.  On  it  the  ancient  village  of  Mizpeh,  or  "  watchtower," 
was  situated :  this-  Mizpeh  is,  however,  to  be  distinguished  from  others  of  the  same 
name. 

The  tablelands  of  Judea  are  a  continuation  of  those  of  Samaria.  The  most 
noticeable  physical  feature  of  this  division  of  the  country  is  the  desert  or  wilderness  of 
Judea,  which  stretches  from  near  Jericho  on  the  north,  to  tlie  mountains  of  Edom  in 
the  south.  Though  called  a  desert,  it  is  not  to  be  understood  that  it  was  either 
uninhabited  or  barren,  but  simply  that  it  was  less  fertile  than  other  parts ;  and  being 
left  to  its  spontaneous  productions,  was  used  chiefly  for  pasture  land.  From  Jerusalem 
the  road  ascends  to  Bethlehem  and  Hebron,  which  is  the  highest  point  in  western 
Palestine.  The  land  then  again  descends  to  Eshtemoa,  where  it  sinks  into  the  hilly 
lowlands,  called  in  Scripture  "the  south  of  Judah."  Here  the  elevations  are  apparently 
very  small,  yet  the  plain  from  which  they  rise  is  itself  of  considerable  height,  and  thus 
brings  the  tops  of  the  hills  to  nearly  1500  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

On  the  "other  side  of  the  Jordan,"  a  steep  wall  of  rocks,  averaging  nearly  2000  feet 
in  height,  runs  along  the  whole  length  of  the  country,  broken  only  by  the  narrow 
valleys  and  ravines  through  which  the  streams  of  eastern  Palestine  pass  down  to  the 
Jordan  and  its  two  seas.  On  the  east  of  the  range  is  a  wide  and  undulating  table- 
land, 120  miles  in  length;  and  near  to  the  middle  of  this  tract  lies  the  elevated 
region  called  the  mountains  of  Gilead.  Here,  "  lofty  mountains  give  an  outline  of 
the  most  magnificent  character ;  flowing  beds  of  secondary  hills  soften  the  romantic 
wildness  of  the  picture ;  gentle  slopes,  clothed  with  wood,  give  a  rich  variety  of  tints, 
hardly  to  be  imitated  by  the  pencil ;  deep  valleys,  filled  with  murmuring  streams  and 
verdant  meadows,  offer  all  the  luxuriance  of  cultivation  ;  and  herds  and  flocks  give 
life  and  animation  to  the  scene."t  The  Scripture  name  of  the  plain  south  of  the 
mountains  of  Gilead  is  Mishor,  that  is,  "  level  region  :"  the  present  inhabitants  have 
given  to  it  the  name  Belka,  and  to  the  adjoining  heights,  Jebel  el  Belka.  Still 
further  south  rise  the  lofty  Abarim  mountains,  or  "  hills  of  the  passage,"  over  which 
*  Stephens's  Incidents  of  Travel.  +  Buckingham's  Travels  in  Syria. 


I 

04  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

the  Israelites  passed  in  their  march  to  the  promised  land.  The  neiglibouring  dis- 
tricts are  the  Hauran,  Zubleh,  Ajlun,  and  Lejah.  The  substratum  of  the  plains  in 
this  region  is  mostly  basalt,  covered  with  a  very  fruitful  soil.  The  plain  of  Hauran 
bears  fine  crops  of  grain,  but  is  not  deep  enough  to  sustain  any  trees,  excepting  a 
few  stunted  figs.  Nothing  breaks  the  xmiformity  of  the  scene,  except  a  few  black 
basaltic  rocks,  which  start  up  here  and  there  fx-om  the  brown  soil.  The  Lejah,  a 
district  twenty  miles  long  and  ten  broad,  is  covered  over  with  a  vast  number  of  black 
rocks,  and  is  not  suitable  for  cultivation,  though  it  has  good  pasture  land,  and  in 
some  places  a  grove  of  oaks  may  be  seen. 

The  range  of  mountains  in  the  south-east,  anciently  known  as  Mount  Seir,  now  called 
Shera  and  Jebal,  line  the  broad  valley  of  the  Ai'abah,  and  extend  from  the  Gulf  of  Akaba 
to  the  Dead  Sea.  According  to  Dr.  Eobinson,  "  the  structure  of  the  chain  is,  at  the  base, 
low  hills  of  limestone,  or  argillaceous  rock  ;  then  lofty  masses  of  porphyry  constituting 
the  body  of  the  mountain  ;  above  these,  sandstone  broken  up  into  irregular  ridges  and 
grotesque  groups  of  cliffs ;  and  again,  further  back  and  higher  than  all,  long  elevated 
ridges  of  limestone  without  precipices.  East  of  all  these,  stretches  off  indefinitely  the 
high  plateau  of  the  great  eastern  desert,  [which  consists  chiefly  of  fine  loose  sand.]  We 
estimated  the  height  of  the  porphyry  cliffs  at  about  2000  feet  above  the  Ai-abah :  the 
elevation  of  Wady  Musa  above  the  same  is  perhaps  2000  or  2200  feet ;  while  the  lime 
stone  ridges  further  back  probably  do  not  fall  short  of  3000  feet.  The  whole  breadth 
of  the  mountainous  tract  between  the  Arabah  and  the  eastern  desert  beyond  does  not 
exceed  fifteen  or  twenty  geogi'aphical  miles.  The  character  of  these  mountains  is  quite 
different  from  those  on  the  west  of  Ai'abah.  The  latter,  wliich  seemed  to  be  not  more 
than  two-thirds  as  high,  are  wholly  desert  and  sterile,  while  these  on  the  east  appear  to 
enjoy  a  sufficiency  of  rain,  and  are  covered  with  tufts  of  herbs  and  occasional  trees.  The 
wadys  too  are  full  of  trees  and  shrubs  and  flowers,  whilst  the  eastern  and  higher  parts 
ai-e  extensively  cultivated,  and  yield  good  crops.  The  general  appearance  of  the  soil  is 
not  unlike  that  around  Hebron  ;  though  the  face  of  the  country  is  very  different.  It  is, 
indeed,  the  region  of  which  Isaac  said  to  his  son  Esau,  'Behold,  thy  dwelling  shall  be 
the  fatness  of  the  earth,  and  of  the  dew  of  heaven  from  above.'  " 

IV.  The  Lebanon,  also  the  Sinaitic  Group,  which  present  a  contrast  to  the  deeply 
depressed  Ghor.  The  elevation  ranges  from  4000  to  10,000  feet.  Mean  annual 
temperature  probably  as  low  as  35°.  The  name  of  Lebanon  (or  "  whiteness")  was  given 
to  the  northern  mountainous  range  in  Palestine,  according  to  some,  because  of  its  snow- 
capped heights  ;  or,  as  others  maintain,  from  the  white  limestone  of  which  it  consists. 
It  presents  great  diversity  of  aspect,  which  occasioned  the  description  of  an  Arabian 
poet:  "Lebanon  bears  winter  on  its  head ;  spring  plays  upon -its  shoulders  ;  autumn 
rests  on  its  bosom  ;  while  summer  lies  sleeping  at  its  feet." 

There  are  two  principal  ridges,  known  as  Libanus  and  Anti-Libanus.  Of  the  former, 
Mount  Makmel  rises  to  the  height  of  9375  feet.  From  this  point,  a  long  chain  of 
mountains  stretches  towards  the  south,  when  the  land  again  descends  to  the  level  of  the 
sea.  Below  Makmel  is  a  district  of  tableland,  about  twelve  miles  long  and  four  broad  ; 
and  at  the  lower  end  of  this  tract,  next  the  sea,  Jebel  Sanin  rises  almost  perpendicularly 
to  the  height  of  9350  feet,  from  whence  it  descends  by  irregular  gradations  to  the  valley 
of  the  Leontes. 

The  Anti-Lehanon  range  runs  towards  the  north-east,  nearly  parallel  with  Lebanon. 
It  is  now  called  by  the  inhabitants,  Jebel-esh-Shurky,  or,  "the  eastern  mountains." 
Its  highest  peak  is  Jebel-esh-Sheildi,  or  Mount  Hermon,  which  attains  to  10,000 
feet,   whose   summit   is   covered   with  perpetual   snow.      Its   western   declivities   are 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  65 

completely  barren,  but  its  eastern  side  affords  good  pasturage.  The  mountains  on 
this  ridge,  however,  are  generally  covered  with  woods.  Hermon  is  still  celebrated 
for  the  heavy  dews  which  fall  on  it. 

Between  the  two  Lebanons  is  the  broad  and  beautiful  valley  of  Bukaa,  extending 
to  ninety  miles  in  length,  with  an  average  of  eleven  in  breadth.  This  valley  was 
the  Coele  (or  Hollow)  S}Tia  of  the  ancients.  Its  water-shed,  or  source,  near  the 
celebrated  ruins  of  Baalbec,  rises  to  the  height  of  3500  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  and  on  each  side  of  it  are  the  springheads  of  two  considerable  rivers,  the  Abana  and 
Pharpar  of  Scripture.  The  first  of  these,  whose  name  signifies  "  the  constant,"  and 
now  called  the  Barada,  rises  in  Anti-Lebanon:  it  joins  the  Pharpar,  or  "the  rapid;" 
and  at  a  short  distance  from  Damascus,  the  united  streams  form  the  Bahr-el-Meij, 
or  "meadow-lake."  Other  streams  which  run  from  these  mountains  are  mostly  lost 
in  the  sands  of  the  desert.  The  remains  of  the  far-famed  forests  of  Lebanon  lie  on 
the  western  declivity  of  the  Makmel,  at  a  height  of  6300  feet ;  above  which  is  a 
pass  more  than  7000  feet  high,  across  which  runs  the  road  from  Beiriit  to  Damascus. 

The  Sinaitic  group  consists  of  an  innumerable  multitude  of  sharp  rocky  summits, 
thrown  together  in  wild  confusion,  rising  to  different  heights,  leafless  and  barren, 
without  the  least  trace  of  verdure  to  relieve  the  stem  and  awful  features  of  the 
prospect.  The  view  from  one  of  these  summits  presents  a  perfect  "  sea  of  desolation," 
without  a  paraUel  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  valleys  between  the  summits  sink 
into  steep  and  narrow  ravines,  with  perpendicular  sides  of  several  hundred  feet  in 
height,  forming  a  maze  of  irregidar  defiles,  which  can  be  securely  traversed  only  by 
the  wild  Arab,  who  has  his  habitation  in  the  "clefts  of  the  valleys,"  amidst  these 
eternal  solitudes.  Towards  the  north  this  wilderness  of  mountains  slopes  down  in 
an  in-egular  curvilinear  line,  which  turns  outward  like  a  crescent,  and  runs  off,  on 
the  one  hand,  towards  the  head  of  the  eastern  gulf  of  the  Bed  Sea;  and  on  the 
other,  north-west,  to  this  sea  itself.  The  extremities  of  the  long,  irregular  hne 
formed  by  this  circular  ridge,  are  joined  by  a  high  chain  of  mountains,  Et-Tyh, 
extending  eastward  from  the  Bed  Sea,  south  of  Suez,  in  a  continued  chain  to  the 
Gulf  of  Aliaba,  a  distance  of  near  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  inclosing  in 
a  circular  segment  a  high  sandy  desert,  utterly  desolate  and  barren.  North  of  Et- 
Tyh,  the  whole  tract  of  country  extending  to  the  Mediterranean,  and  from  the  Bed 
Sea  to  the  deep  valley  of  the  Arabah,  is  an  immense  tableland,  fomied  into  hard 
gravelly  or  rocky  plateaus,  lying  high  above  the  level  of  the  adjacent  waters,  with  a 
slight  inclination  to  the  ncrth.  The  surface  of  this  elevated  plain  is  overspread  with 
a  coarse  gravel,  mingled  with  black  flint  stone,  interspersed  occasionally  with  drifting 
sand,  and  only  diversified  with  lidges  and  summits  of  barren  chalk  hills,  and  furrowed 
by  the  diy  beds  of  winter  torrents.  In  the  time  of  Moses  it  was  a  great  and  terrible 
wilderness ;  and  from  time  immemorial  it  has  been  a  waste-howling  desert,  without 
rivers  or  fountains,  and  with  but  little  verdure  to  alleviate  the  horrors  of  its  desola- 
tion.* A  few  shrubs  of  Egyptian  thorn  are  met  with  occasionally,  which  furnish  the 
<nim  Ai-abic  of  commerce.  The  extreme  south-eastern  portion  of  the  desert,  on  the 
route  to  Mecca,  is  called  by  the  Arabs,  Boba-el-Khaly,  "  the  empty  abode,"  a  name 
which  well  characterizes  the  district. 

V.  Some  attention  has  been  given  by  recent  travellers  to  the  geological  and  minera 

logical  features  of  Palestine  and  the   adjoining  lands.     The  general  character  of  the 

stone  which  composes  the  great  central  ridges  of  the   Syrian  mountains,  or  which 

ramify  from  them,  is  that  of  calcareous  rock,  sonorous  when  struck,  and  of  a  whitish  or 

*  Coleman's  Historical  Geography  of  the  Bible. 

F 


06  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

pale  yellow  colour.  It  is  a  very  hard  kind  of  limestone,  disposed  in  strata  variously 
inclined,  and  like  all  such  strata,  presents  large  voids  or  caverns,  capable  of  sheltering 
many  hundreds  or  thousands  of  men.  This  prevailing  character  of  the  constituent  rock 
undergoes  various  modifications  of  texture,  colour,  form,  and  intermixture,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.*  In  the  extreme  north  of  Palestine,  the  calcareous  rock  is  said 
by  Burckhardt  to  be  of  considerable  hardness,  and  of  a  reddish  colour.  The  hills  about 
Jerusalem  are  of  a  hard,  light-coloured  limestone,  which,  as  the  traveller  approaches 
the  Dead  Sea,  is  exchanged  for  white  and  greyish  limestone  of  a  looser  texture,  con- 
taining layers  of  a  reddish  micaceous  stone.  On  the  high  eastern  plains,  black  basaltic 
rock  is  found  in  large  quantities,  especially  about  the  Hauran,  and  also  along  the  whole 
eastern  border  of  the  country.  The  mingled  structure  of  the  mountains  of  Seir, 
consisting  of  limestone,  porphyry,  and  sandstone,  has  just  been  noticed.  Dr.  01in,f 
who  gave  much  attention  to  the  geological  character  of  Seir  and  Petra,  on  referring  to 
the  latter  place,  says :  "  ]\Iany  of  the  rocks  are  adorned  with  such  a  profusion  of  the 
most  lovely  and  brilliant  colours  as,  I  believe,  it  is  qaite  impossible  to  describe.  Eed, 
purple,  yellow,  azure,  black,  and  white,  are  seen  in  the  same  mass  distinctly,  in  suc- 
cessive layers,  or  blended  so  as  to  form  eveiy  shade  and  hue  of  which  they  are  capable 
— as  brilliant  and  as  soft  as  they  ever  appear  in  flowers,  or  in  the  plumage  of  birds,  or 
in  the  sky  when  illuminated  by  the  most  glorious  sunset."  The  primitive  rocks  of  Sinai 
are  granite,  but  more  northward,  towards  the  Akaba,  cliffs  of  black  basalt  appear.  The 
composition  of  the  hills  around  the  Dead  Sea,  according  to  Lynch,  consists  of  masses 
of  conglomerate  and  banks  of  sand,  interspersed  with  innumerable  round  pieces  of  trap. 
Along  the  coast,  particularly  about  Carmel,  the  upper  ]5art  of  the  cliffs  are  principally 
of  chalk  :  indeed  the  chalky  nature  of  a  part  of  the  seaboard  has  given  the-name  of 
White  Cape  to  Eas  el  Bayad,  and  which  was,  from  this  circumstance,  called  by  the 
ancients  Album  Promontorium.  Strata  of  chalk  are  also  found  along  the  Gulf  of  Akaba. 
Round,  hollow  stones,  filled  with  sparry  matter,  known  as  lapides  Judalci,  are  obtained 
from  these  chalky  beds,  and  find  a  ready  sale  among  pilgrims,  who  form  them  into 
amulets.  In  various  places  peti-ifactions,  corals,  and  fossil  shells  are  met  with  in  con- 
siderable abundance. — Among  the  natural  productions  are  coal,  saltpetre,  rocksalt, 
sulphur,  asphaltum,  natron,  iron,  lead,  and  slate,  which  treasures  only  require  the 
industry  and  entei-prise  of  man  to  turn  to  a  profitable  account.  Gold  and  silver,  it  is 
reported,  were  anciently  found  in  small  quantities.  Various  hot  springs,  from  the  Dead 
Sea  northwards  to  the  Lake  of  Tiberias,  indicate  volcanic  action.  In  the  district  of 
the  latter  region,  especially,  thermal  springs  abound,  and  were  once  much  frequented  by 
the  Romans.  The  water,  as  it  issues  from  the  ground,  is  too  hot  to  bear  the  hand  in 
it :  a  thermometer,  examined  while  still  in  the  spring,  stood  at  144°  Fahr.  The  taste 
is  exceedingly  salt  and  bitter,  like  hot  sea-water;  there  is  also  a  strong  smell  of 
sulphur,  and  a  greenish-yellow  sediment  is  deposited.  Further  evidence  of  the  volcanic 
character  of  this  region  is  seen  in  the  quantities  of  a  brittle  sulphureous  stone,  and  of 
lava,  which  are  found  in  some  of  the  districts.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Saphet,  two 
places  bear  every  mark  of  extinguished  volcanoes.  Palestine  has  also  been  from  the 
earliest  times  exposed  to  earthquakes.  The  Scriptures  abound  in  allusions  to  them ; 
and  history,  down  to  very  recent  times, 'when  more  than  5000  persons  were  destroyed 
at  Saphet  alone,  bears  repeated  testimony  to  the  devastation  they  have  occasioned. 

Attention  is  invited  to  the  climatological  diagi'am  on  the  accompanying  map,  which 
presents,  at  one  view,  the  pi-ogress  of  the  seasons,  the  general  bearings  of  the  wind  the 
prevailing  weather,  and  the  range  of  temperature  throughout  the  year. 

•  Kitto's  Physical  Geography  of  the  Holy  Land.  *  t  Travels,  vol.  ii. 


X 


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l)|-;../m  K-  Flioivivp,!    by  Kr]w»l  C-^ 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 


67 


As  in  the  present  map,  and  indeed  in  most  modem  ones,  as  well  as  in  books  of 
eastern  travel,  some  Ai'abic  words  are  unavoidably  introduced,  the  following  explana- 
tions may  be  useful 


AiN,  a  fountain. 

Bab,  a  gate. 

Bahr,  a  lake  or  sea. 

Beit,  place,  house. 

BiR,  a  well. 

El,  the. 

Jebel,  a  range  of  mountains. 

Jesireh,  an  island. 

Kasr,  a  castle. 

Kefk,  a  village. 


Khan,  an  inn. 
Merj,  a  meadow. 
Nahr,  a  river. 
Neby,  a  prophet. 
Tehama,  lowlands. 
Tel,  a  hiU. 
Tor,  a  mountaiai. 
Sahel,  a  field,  or  plain. 
Wady,  a  rain  brook,  or  the  vaUey  in 
which  it  flows. 


Nos.  X.  and  XI. 

ITS  ALTARS,  UTENSILS,  AND  PRIESTS. 

DuEiNQ  the  nomadic  state  of  the  children  of  Israel,  a  moveable  and  portable 
tabernacle,  or  tent,  for  the  purposes  of  Divine  worship,  best  suited  their  unsettled 
condition.  The  "  Tabernacle  of  the  congregation,"  or,  as  it  has  been  called,  the  Ante- 
Sinaitic  tabernacle,  was  the  first  erection  of  the  kind,  and  was  placed  by  Moses  "  afar 
ofi"  from  the  camp,"  Exod.  xxxiii.  7.  This  was,  probably,  only  a  large  tent,  where  Moses 
transacted  public  business.  The  next  was  the  Sinaitic,  constructed  vmder  the  Divine 
direction  by  Bezaleel  and  Aholiab,  and  was  set  up  in  the  desert,  on  the  first  day  of  the 
month  in  the  second  year  after  leaving  Egypt.  To  this  succeeded  the  third,  or  Davidic 
Tabernacle,  erected  by  David  on  Mount  Moriah,  for  the  reception  of  the  ark,  2  Sam. 
vi.  32.  For  four  hundred  years  after  the  conquest  of  Canaan  the  Israelitish  sanctuary 
was  a  tent,  when  it  was  superseded  by  the  magnificent  structure  of  Solomon's  Temple. 
The  present  description  will  refer  to  the  second  of  these  Tabernacles,  the  Sinaitic. 

The  Tabernacle  erected  in  the  Arabian  desert,  as  the  visible  dwelling-place  of  the 
Most  High,  was  not  formed  after  the  device  or  arrangement  of  man,  but  was  unfolded 
in  its  entire  plan  by  God  himself.  Minute  and  careful  directions  were  given  to  Moses 
at  Mount  Sinai  as  to  the  form  and  size  of  the  building,  the  materials  to  be  employed, 
and  the  sacred  utensils  that  were  to  belong  to  it.  A  solemn  injunction  was  given: 
"According  to  all  that  I  show  thee,  after  the  pattern  of  the  tabernacle,  and  the  pattern  of 
all  the  instruments  thereof,  even  so  shall  ye  make  it,"  Exod.  xxv.  9 — 4.0.  The  necessaiy 
supplies  of  materials  and  money  were  liberally  provided  by  the  offerings  of  the  people. 
It  is  computed  that  the  value  of  the  metals  alone  would  amount  to  more  than  ^£240, 000 
of  our  money.  The  valuables  given  to  the  Israelites  on  their  leaving  the  land  of  Egypt, 
and  the  spoils  taken  when  their  enemies  were  drowned  at  the  Eed  Sea,  probabh 
supplied  a  large  portion  of  these  offerings. 

1.  The  Court  of  the  Tabernacle. — The  outer  inclosure  was  the  court  of  the  Tabernacle, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  and  seventy-five  broad,  forming  an  oblong 
square.     It  was  surrounded  on  all  sides  with  fine-twined  linen  curtains,  probably  a 

f2 


fiS  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

kind  of  network,  through  which  persons  on  the  outside  might  see  the  interior.  This 
network  was  suspended  from  silver  rods,  which  extended  from  one  column  to  another. 
The  columns  were  sixty  in  number,  made  of  shittim  wood,  a  kind  of  acacia,  or,' as  some 
think,  of  cedar,  and  covered  with  brass.  The  entrance  to  the  court  was  in  the  centre  of 
the  east  end,  formed  by  a  rich  curtain,  wrought  in  needlework,  with  blue,  purple,  and 
scarlet,  and  which  could  be  drawn  up  when  so  required. 

•2.  The  Tabernacle.  The  Tabernacle,  properly  so  called,  was  placed  about  the  middle 
of  the  western  side  of  the  above  court.  It  was  of  an  oblong  square  figure,  fifty  feet  in 
length  by  eighteen  in  breadth.  The  two  sides  and  the  west  end  were  constracted  of 
planks  of  shittim  wood.  Twenty  planks  were  on  the  north  side,  the  same  number  on 
the  south,  and  six  on  the  west,  an  additional  board  being  added  to  each  western  corner. 
This  framework  was  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  and  each  plank  was  furnished  at  the 
bottom  with  two  tenons,  which  were  received  into  mortices  or  large  sockets  of  solid 
silver  ;  and  to  give  the  whole  greater  security  and  firmness,  they  were  fastened  to  bars 
by  rings  or  staples  of  gold,  which  served  as  the  ribs  of  the  fabric,  binding  the  whole 
together.  The  eastern  end  Avas  left  for  the  entrance,  and  was  closed  by  a  curtain  of 
worked  linen,  or  tapestry,  hanging  from  silver  rods.  The  roofing  to  this  framework 
consisted  of  four  coverings.  The  first  was  in  ten  pieces,  made  of  fine  twined  linen,  into 
which  the  figures  of  cherubim  were  worked  with  blue,  purple,  and  scarlet  colours.  The 
different  parts  of  this  first  covering  were  joined  together  by  loops  of  blue  and  hooks  of 
gold  :  it  hung  about  two  feet  from  the  ground.  The  second  covering  was  somewhat 
larger,  and  consisted  of  eleven  pieces,  made  of  very  fine  goats'  hair  :  provision  was 
likewise  made  for  uniting  these  pieces,  by  loops  and  clasps  of  brass,  into  one  large 
curtain.  The  third  covering  was  of  rams'  skins,  dyed  red ;  and  the  fourth  of  what  is 
called  in  the  English  translation  badgers'  skins,  though  it  is  uncertain  what  animal  is 
meant.  As  this  last  was  designed  to  resist  inclement  weather,  some  have  supposed  it 
was  made  of  the  skins  of  dolphins  and  porpoises,  procured  from  the  Eed  Sea. 

The  Tabernacle  was  divided  into  two  luiequal  parts  :  the  first  occupied  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  length,  or  nearly  thirty -five  feet.  This  was  the  "Holy  Place,"  or,  "  the 
first  Tabernacle,"  Heb.  ix.  2.  The  inner  apartment  was  half  this  size,  and  was  called  the 
"  Most  Holy  Place,"  the  "  Holiest  of  all,"  and  "  the  Holy  of  Holies."  The  separation 
was  made  by  a  curtain,  called  "the  veil,"  and  sometimes  "the  second  veil,"  the  one 
hanging  over  the  entrance  forming  the  first,  Heb.  ix.  3.  Into  the  inner  chamber  the 
high  priest  alone  was  allowed  to  enter,  and  that  but  once  in  the  course  of  the  year,  on 
the  great  day  of  atonement. 

3.  The  Brazen  Altar.  About  the  middle  of  the  outer  court  was  the  altar  of  burnt 
oiTerings,  or  the  brazen  altar.  Its  fi'ame  was  square,  nearly  five  feet  and  a  half  in  height, 
and  nine  feet  in  length  and  breadth.  The  sides  were  made  of  shittim  wood,  covered 
with  brass.  The  fire  was  kindled  upon  a  grate  of  brass  ;  though  some  conjecture  that 
this  grate  was  only  a  frame  on  which  a  layer  of  earth  was  placed,  and  that  the  sacrifices 
were  burned  upon  this  earthy  surface,  Exod.  xx.  24.  The  use  of  the  earth  may  have  been 
to  preseiwe  the  wood  work  from  the  destructive  effects  of  the  fire.  The  four  comers  of 
the  altar  projected  upwards,  so  as  to  resemble  bonis,  and  were  regarded  as  peculiarly 
sacred,  Exod.  xxvii.  2  ;  Psa.  cxviii.  27.  To  these  the  victims  were  bound;  and  criminals, 
as  in  the  cases  of  Joab  and  Adonijah,  caught  hold  of  them-  on  solemn  occasions  the 
officiating  priest  sprinkled  the  blood  of  the  victim  on  these  horns,  Lev.  iv.  25,  30.  On 
the  south  side  was  a  sloping  ascent  to  the  altar,  made  of  heaped-up  earth.  The  fire 
used  upon  the  altar  was  regarded  as  sacred,  having  first  descended  thereon  from  heaven, 
Lev.  ix.  21 :  it  was  kept  continually  burning,  and  never  allowed  to  go  out.  Lev.  vi.  13 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  69 

The  rabbis  state  that  it  was  kept  alive  by  miracle  during  the  wanderings,  and  even 
thoucfh  covered  up  in  cloths  and  skins  when  on  the  march  :  it  is  more  probable  that  the 
o-rate  containing  the  fire  was  taken  from  the  altar,  and  carried  by  itself.  There  A\ere 
various  articles  for  the  use  of  the  altar,  as  pots  or  urns  to  take  away  the  ashes,  shovels, 
basins,  flesh-hooks,  and  firepans,  all  of  which  were  made  of  brass,  Exod.  xxxviii.  1 — 7. 

4.  The  Brazen  Laver.  Midway  between  the  altar  and  the  Tabernacle  was  placed  the 
laver,  filled  with  water  for  the  ablutions  of  the  priests  previous  to  their  entrance  on  the 
ritual  services.  It  was  a  circular  vessel,  made  of  the  brass  which  formed  the  mirrors  of 
tlie  Israelitish  women,  Exod.  xxxviii.  8.  Mirrors  of  highly  polished  metal  were  in 
common  use  among  the  ancients.  The  laver  rested  on  an  ornamented  foot,  or  pedestal. 
Its  dimensions  are  uncertain,  though  it  probably  was  much  smaller  than  is  commonly 
represented.     Fresh  water  was  placed  in  it  every  morning. 

5.  The  Candlestick.  The  Tabernacle  was  without  windows;  its  light  was  obtained 
from  a  large  lamp-holder,  made  of  pure  gold,  the  main  stem  or  shaft  of  which  was, 
according  to  the  Jewish  writers,  five  feet  high.  Its  weight  was  a  talent,  or  125  pounds  ; 
although,  as  Josephus  asserts,  it  was  hollow  within,  and  must  therefore  have  been  of 
considerable  size.  It  had  six  branches,  parallel  with  each  other :  at  the  end  of  each 
branch,  and  at  the  top  of  the  main  stem,  was  a  lamp.  The  stem  and  each  branch  were 
ornamented  with  a  bowl,  knop,  and  flowers  of  liUes.  All  the  seven  lights  were  kept 
burning  in  the  night ;  but,  it  is  said,  only  three  were  used  in  the  day-time.  The  lamps 
were  supplied  with  the  purest  olive  oil ;  procm-ed,  not  by  the  common  method  of 
pressure,  but  by  bruising  or  beating  the  olives,  while  yet  somewhat  green,  in  a  mortar. 
Connected  with  this  lamp-stand  were  tongs  and  snuffdishes  :  the  former  were  probably 
in  the  form  of  scissors,  to  clipp  off  the  snuff,  and  remove  it  into  the  dish. 

6.  The  Table  of  Shewhread.  On  the  north  side  of  the  Holy  Place  was  the  table  of 
shewbread,  as  the  candlestick  was  over  against  it  on  the  south.  It  was  a  table 
of  shittini  wood,  about  three  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  twenty  inches  broad,  and  about 
thirty  inches  in  height,  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  and  ornamented  with  a  border 
of  wrought  gold.  The  frame  of  the  table  had  a  cornice  or  border  round  about  it, 
about  four  inches  in  width,  called  its  crown  ;  and  a  similar  border  was  underneath 
the  top.  There  were  also  gold  rings  fastened  to  the  legs,  for  the  insertion  of  the 
staves  to  carry  it.  Twelve  loaves  of  unleavened  bread  were  continually  on  this  table, 
each  containing  about  ten  pints  of  flour.  They  were  placed  in  two  piles  (or  as  some 
say,*in  rows),  and  on  the  top  of  each  pile  was  a  small  quantity  of  frankincense  and 
salt.  These  loaves  were  changed  every  week,  when  the  frankincense  was  burned  as  an 
oblation.  The  name  given  to  them  in  the  original  means  "  bread  of  the  face,"  because 
it  was  placed  before  the  presence  of  Jehovah.  Wine  was  also  placed  upon  this  table  in 
small  bowls,  or  cups,  called  vials,  which  was  weekly  "  poured  out  before  the  Lord." 

7.  The  Altar  of  Incense.  A  small  altar  for  incense  was  placed  near  the  veil  which 
divided  the  Tabernacle.  It  was  made  of  shittim  wood,  tv,enty-one  inches  in  lengtli.  the 
same  in  breadth,  and  three  feet  and  a  half  in  height.  It  was  ornamented  and  plated 
with  gold,  and  hence  was  called  the  golden  altar,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  brazen 
altar  in  the  outer  court.  It  had  an  ornamental  border  of  gold,  and  four  small  horns  at 
the  comers,  which,  it  has  been  supposed,  w^ere  symbolical  of  sovereignty,  strength,  and 
glory.  There  were  at  the  sides  rings  for  the  staves  by  which  it  was  carried.  While 
the  incense  was  bm-ning  on  this  altar  night  and  morning,  it  Avas  customary  for  the 
worshippers  who  were  standing  without  to  offer  their  prayers  in  silence.  The  priest  wa^ 
strictly  enjoined  not  to  offer  "  strange  incense,"  that  is,  any  other  than  the  sacred 
composition  upon  the  golden  altai". 


70  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

8.  The  Ark  of  the  Covenant.  At  the  western  end  of  the  Holy  of  HoHes  was  a  chest, 
called  the  ark  of  the  covenant.  It  was  constructed  of  shittim  wood,  and  covered  within 
and  without  with  the  purest  gold,  with  an  ornamental  rim  or  border  on  the  top.  Its 
breadth  was  rather  more  than  thirty  inches,  the  same  in  depth,  and  three  feet  and  a  half 
in  length.  On  each  side  were  two  gold  rings  for  the  gold-covered  staves  by  which  it 
was  removed,  and  which  were  not  withdrawn  from  their  places.  They  were  drawn  out 
so  far  as  to  touch  the  veil  which  separated  the  apartments.  The  lid  of  the  ark  was  of 
purest  gold :  above  it  were  two  figures  of  cherubim,  made  of  solid  gold,  so  placed  that 
their  faces  turned  towards  each  other,  and  were  inclined  towards  the  ark.  Between 
these  cherubim  rested  the  Shechinah,  or  the  manifestation  of  the  presence  of  God :  its 
appearance  was  that  of  a  luminous  cloud.  There,  the  Lord  said  to  Moses,  "I  will  meet 
with  thee,  and  I  will  commune  with  thee  from  above  the  mercy  seat,  from  between  the 
two  cherubim  which  are  upon  the  ark  of  the  testimony."  The  primary  idea  of  the 
Hebrew  word  Shechinah  is  that  of  a  "  sacred  dwelling."  There  was  nothing  in  the 
ark  but  the  two  tables  of  stone,  called  "  the  testimony,"  on  which  the  ten  command- 
ments were  graven,  1  Kings  viii.  9.  In  front  of  the  ark  stood  a  vase  of  gold,  which 
contained  a  pot  of  manna,  and  the  rod  of  Aaron  which  budded.  By  its  side  was  a 
coffer,  containing  a  copy  of  the  law.  Or,  the  manna  and  the  rod  may  have  been  in  the 
ark  when  placed  by  Moses  in  the  tabernacle  ;  as  the  apostle  Paul  states,  that  the  golden 
pot  and  the  rod  were  in  the  inside  of  the  ark  itself,  with  the  tables  of  the  covenant. 
Either  we  may  understand  him  to  mean  simply  that  these  articles  belonged  to  it,  and 
were  placed  securely  by  its  side ;  or  else,  that  they  really  were  placed  within  the  ark  at 
first,  but  afterwards  displaced  during  the  confusion  which  prevailed  in  the  time  of  the 
judges.  When  the  camp  was  removed,  the  ark  was  covered  with  much  reverence  with 
a  purple  pall,  and  borne  by  the  priests  in  the  midst  of  the  marching  host. 

9.  Mode  of  Encampment.  During  the  wanderings  of  the  Israelites  the  Tabernacle  was 
erected  in  the  midst  of  the  camp.  Immediately  around  its  court  were  pitched  the 
tents  of  the  priests  and  Levites  :  the  priests  having  their  place  to  the  east  before  the 
entrance,  the  family  of  Gershom  to  the  west,  that  of  Kohath  to  the  south,  and  that  of 
Merari  to  the  north.  Outside  of  these,  at  some  distance,  the  other  tribes  encamped  in 
four  great  divisions,  each  consisting  of  three  tribes.  Each  of  these  divisions  had  its 
separate  standard,  and  principal  tribe,  by  whose  name  it  was  distinguished.  Thus,  on 
the  east  was  the  camp  of  Judah,  including  the  tribes  of  Judah,  Issachar,  and  Zebulon : 
on  the  south  side,  the  camp  of  Eeuben,  including  the  tribes  of  Eeuben,  Simeon,  and  Gad : 
on  the  west,  the  camp  of  Ephraira,  including  the  tribes  of  Ephraim,  Manasseh,  and  Benja- 
min: on  the  north,  the  camp  of  Dan,  including  the  tribes  of  Dan,  Asher,and  Naphtali. 
When  the  signal  was  given  to  march,  the  Tabernacle  was  taken  down,  and  all  its  parts 
committed  to  the  care  of  the  Levites,  to  be  carried  to  the  next  place  of  encampment.  The 
priests,  Aaron  and  his  family,  covered  all  the  articles  before  the  Levites  were  allowed  to 
come  into  the  tabernacle,  to  prepare  for  the  removal.  Each  of  the  three  families  of  the 
Levites  had  its  particular  charge  in  this  service  assigned  to  it  by  the  Lord.  The  care  of' 
the  most  holy  things,  the  sacred  furniture  of  the  Tabernacle  and  its  court,  were  intrusted 
to  the  sons  of  Kohath,  and  they  were  required  to  carry  the  whole  upon  their  shoulders. 
For  convenient  carriage,  the  ark,  the  table,  and  both  the  altars  were  furnished  with  rings, 
through  which  staves  or  poles,  prepared  for  the  purpose,  were  made  to  pass,  by  means 
of  which  they  might  be  lifted  and  borne.  In  marching,  the  camp  of  Judah  moved 
forward  first ;  then  followed  the  camp  of  Pveuben  ;  next  came  the  Levites  with  the 
several  parts  of  the  tabernacle ;  immediately  after  them  the  camp  of  Ephraim  set  forward ; 
the  camp  of  Dan  brought  up  the -rear.  Numb,  ii.,  iii.  17 — 39,  iv.  1 — -"3. 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  7i 

When  the  Israelites  entered  the  land  of  Canaan,  the  Tabernacle  was  set  np  at  Gilgal, 
where  they  first  encamped.  It  remained  there  about  seven  years,  and  then  was  removed 
to  Shiloh,  a  more  central  situation,  a  few  miles  north  of  Jerusalem.  Here  other  tents 
and  buildings  were  placed  around  it,  for  the  residences  of  the  priests,  and  the  reception 
of  various  articles  connected  with  the  services.  It  remained  at  Shiloh  till  after  the 
death  of  Eli,  considerably  more  than  three  hundred  years.  In  the  days  of  Saul,  the 
Tabernacle  was  fixed  at  Nob,  and  from  thence  was  removed  to  Gibeon.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  Solomon's  reign,  it  was  found  still  at  Gibeon ;  we  have  no  account  of  it 
after  the  Temple  was  built. 

The  ark  abode  in  its  place  in  the  Tabernacle  until  it  was  presumptuously  carried  into 
the  field  of  battle,  and  was  taken  captive  by  the  Philistines,  but  who  were  compelled 
to  return  it  after  a  short  time,  1  Sam.  iv.  It  appears  not  to  have  been  restored  to 
its  place  when  sent  back  by  the  heathen;  it  abode  for  seventy  years  at  Kirjath-jearim, 
until  shortly  after  the  settlement  of  David  on  the  throne,  when  it  was  carried  up  to 
Jerusalem,  and  lodged  in  a  tent  prepared  for  it ;  and  from  thence  was  duly  conveyed, 
with  the  other  holy  utensils,  and  placed  in  the  magnificent  Temple  erected  by  Solomon. 

Gaements  of  the  Pkiests.  The  engravings  on  No.  11  furnish  what  may  be 
regarded  as  approximate  representations  of  the  priestly  vestments.  An  account 
of  the  holy  garments  of  the  high  priest,  which  God  directed  to  be  made  for  his 
use,  is  found  in  Exod.  xxviii.  These  were,  in  addition  to  those  worn  by  other 
priests: — 1.  The  coat,  or  robe  of  the  ephod,  made  of  blue  wool:  it  was  of  the 
form  of  a  long  shirt,  without  sleeves,  but  with  openings  for  the  arms  and  the  neck, 
richly  embroidered.  It  reached  down  to  the  knees  ;  and  upon  the  hem  of  its  lower 
part  were  seventy-two  golden  bells,  with  representations  of  pomegranates  in  needle- 
work between  them.  2.  The  ephod  consisted  of  two  parts,  one  of  which  hung  over 
the  back,  reaching  to  the  heels,  and  the  other  over  the  breast,  extending  only  to 
a  little  lower  than  the  waist,  and  was  secured  by  a  girdle  or  sash  under  the  arms. 
It  was  of  fine  twisted  linen,  wrought  in  gold  and  purple.  On  each  shoulder  it 
was  secured  by  an  onyx  stone,  set  in  gold,  which  acted  as  a  clasp,  and  on  *ach 
of  which  was  graven  the  names  of  six  of  the  tribes  of  Israel.  3.  The  breastplate  of 
judgment  was  a  square  piece  of  cloth,  measuring  only  a  span  each  way,  or  eleven 
inches  square,  composed  of  the  same  highly  ornamented  material  as  the  ephod.  On 
it  were  four  rows  of  precious  stones,  each  row  having  three  stones,  on  every  one 
of  which  was  engi'aved  the  name  of  one  of  the  twelve  tribes.  It  is  to  be  observed 
that  these  names  were  engraved  on  the  hardest  stones  known  to  exist,  and  which 
shows  that  the  art  of  gem-engraving  must  have  been  well  understood  in  that  early 
age.  In  this  breastplate  were  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  though  what  these  were 
It  is  impossible  now  to  determine.  The  words  mean  "light"  and  "perfection,"  or, 
according  to  the  Septuagint,  "revelation"  and  "truth."  This  breastplate  was 
fastened  to  the  front  part  of  the  ephod;  and  thus  the  names  of  the  children  of 
Israel  were  carried  by  the  high  priest  upon  his  heart,  and  upon  his  shoulders,  for 
a  memorial  before  the  Lord,  whenever  he  went  into  the  Holy  place.  4.  The  mitre, 
turban,  or  covering  of  the  head,  was  formed  of  fine  linen,  and  finished  with  pecuhar 
elegance  and  taste  ;  on  the  front  of  which  was  a  small  plate  of  pure  gold,  with  the 
expressive  inscription,  "Holiness  to  the  Lord."  Garments  exactly  like  those  of 
the  high  priest,  in  materials,  form,  and  colour,  were  not  allowed  to  be  worn  by  any 
other  person  ;  nor  was  the  high  priest  himself  permitted  to  wear  them  as  an  ordinary 
dress,  but  only  when  engaged  in  the  solemn  services  connected  with  his  office.     On 


72  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

the  great  day  of  atonement,  however,  he  put  off  this  splendid  official  dress,  and 
clothed  himself  in  plain  and  simple  linen  apparel.  Lev.  xvi.  4,  28. 

The  costume  of  an  ordinary  priest  was  linen  drawers ;  tunics,  or  long  garments 
with  sleeves ;  a  girdle  of  embroidered  cloth,  encircling  the  body,  twice  crossed  over 
the  breast  and  hanging  down  in  front ;  and  a  mitre.  Reverence,  it  was  considered,, 
did  not  allow  the  use  of  sandals  or  shoes,  in  the  performance  of  the  holy  ministry ; 
accordingly,  all  the  priests  and  Levites  served  with  naked  feet  at  all  times. 

The  Levites  were  a  subordinate  class  of  ministers  in  the  service  of  the  sanctuaiy. 
Their  dress  was  of  a  very  simple  kind,  and  similar  to  the  common  priests.  •  They 
were  divided  by  David  into  four  principal  classes.  The  first  class,  consisting  of 
twenty-four  thousand,  were  appointed  to  "  set  forward  the  work  of  the  house  of 
the  Lord,"  and  were  subdivided  into  courses  or  classes  of  one  thousand  each,  who 
attended  in  the  sanctuary  in  succession,  each  for  a  week,  1  Chron.  xxiv.  1 — 19. 
The  various  services  were  distributed  by  lot.  Thus  it  fell  to  one  to  burn  incense, 
to  another  to  kill  the  sacrifice,  and  to  another  to  sprinkle  the  blood.  The  second 
course,  consisting  of  six  thousand,  were  officers  and  magistrates,  sent  throughout 
the  land.  The  third,  of  four  thousand,  were  porters,  or  guards;  and  the  fourth, 
of  the  same  number,  were  musicians  and  singers.  The  more  servile  work  of  the 
Tabernacle  and  Temple,  such  as  carrying  water  and  hewing  wood,  was  done  by 
Nethinims,  that  is,  "  given "  or  "  devoted  ones."  Some  of  these  were  descendants 
of  the  Gibeonites,  and  others  were  Canaanites 


No.  XII. 


^lati  nf  ttiE  €m^lt 


^  SOLOMON'S  TEMPLE. 


The  unsettled  state  of  the  Israelites  during  the  times  of  the  judges,  and  the 
frequent  Vars  of  their  first  two  kings,  prevented  the  erection  of  a  more  substantial 
sanctuary  than  the  Tabernacle.  But  no  sooner  had  David  firmly  established  his 
government  than  he  arranged  for  an  orderly  attendance  on  the  services  of  religion 
at  Gibeon.  A  few  years  subsequently,  he  remembered  that  the  ark  of  God  still 
remained  within  the  curtains  of  a  moveable  tent,  while  he  was  magnificently  accom- 
modated in  a  palace  of  cedar.  The  idea  of  erecting  a  stone-built  temple  was  now 
first  awakened  in  his  mind;  but  Nathan  the  prophet  was  directed  to  inform  him, 
that  though  his  pious  intentions  were  approved  of  God,  this  honour  was  reserved 
for  his  son,  in  whose  days  the  kingdom  should  enjoy  uninterrupted  peace.  He 
was,  however,  allowed  to  bear  a  part  in  the  great  work,  by  making  vast  preparations 
for  it,  and  in  collecting  a  large  store  of  gold,  silver,  and  costly  materials.  The 
hill  was  also  made  known  to  him  on  which  the  building  should  be  erected.  Before 
his  death,  the  aged  monarch  carefully  delivered  the  materials  and  the  plan  to  his 
son,  and  exhorted  the  princes  of  Israel  to  aid  the  youthful  king  in  this  pious 
design,  1  Chron.  xxviii.  1 — 19. 

In  pursuance  of  this  object,  "  Solomon  began  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord 
at  Jerusalem  in  Mount  Moriah,  where  the  Lord  appeared  unto  David  his  father, 
in    the    place   that   David   had   prepared  in   the  threshing-floor   of   Oman  (Araunah) 


zn 


PLAN     OF    SOLOMONS     TEMPLE. 

wit}i    the    two    Inner    Courts. 


rti-m  ^-s^iJI'mr, 


0  tit  ex     C  OUT  t 
SiirroimdeA  hy  o/SzngkJiow  ot'HTlars 


PLAN  OF  HEROD  S  TEMPLE. 

^^  ,„  NOETH 


-_nd_ 


COURT 


1  f>RyKBrfti^|r 


DieHoly 
SdUes 


PLAN  or 
THE  TABERNACLE 


Eiigf\)yEdw^Gover.fe3mDfKie|.iei-ts  Atlas 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  7:3 

the  Jebusite,"  "2  Chron.  iii.  1.  He  largely  added  to  the  materials  prepared  by  his 
father,  and  entered  into  treaty  with  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre,  for  the  service  of  Phoenician 
artists  and  workmen.  "  In  the  fourth  year  (of  Solomon's  reign)  was  the  foundation 
of  the  house  of  the  Lord  laid,  in  the  month  Zif :  and  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the 
month  Bui,  which  is  the  eighth  month,  was  the  house  finished  throughout  all  the 
parts  thereof,  and  according  to  all  the  fashion  of  it.  So  was  he  seven  years  in 
building  it,"   1  Kings  vi.  37,  38. 

Josephus  says*  that  the  foundations  of  the  Temple  were  laid  on  a  steep  eminence, 
the  natural  summit  of  which  did  not  offer  a  sufficiently  level  space.  As  it  was 
surrounded  by  precipices,  it  became  necessary  to  build  strong  walls  and  buttresses 
from  the -valley,  to  gain  an  enlarged  extent  of  surface,  the  intervening  space  being 
filled  with  earth.  The  hill  was  also  fortified  by  a  triple  wall,  the  lowest  tier  of 
which  was  in  some  places  more  than  300  cubits  high;f  and  the  depth  of  the 
foundation  was  not  visible,  because  it  had  been  necessary  in  some  parts  to  dig  deep 
into  the  ground,  in  order  to  obtain  sufficient  support. 

The  dimensions  of  the  stones  of  which  the  foundations  and  walls  were  composed 
were  enormous.  Josephus  states  that  the  builders  were  directed  to  search  for  the 
largest  blocks  that  could  be  found,  some  of  which  were  forty  cubits  in  length,  and 
which  were  cut  into  shape  on  the  mountains  where  they  were  found,  and  then 
conveyed  to  Jerusalem. |  It  is  evident  there  must  have  been  some  knowledge  of 
the  laws  of  mechanics,  for  the  transit  of  these  ponderous  blocks  from  their  distant 
quarries,  over  the  rugged  mountains,  and  the  raising  of  them  to  the  lofty  heights 
appropriated  to  them  in  the  building.  The  Jewish  historian  further  states,  that 
the  stones  composing  the  outer  walls  were  entirely  white,  and  were  put  together 
with  so  much  skill,  that  the  interstices  were  not  perceptible. 

The  dimensions  of  the  Temple  were  not  so  extensive  and  imposing  as  is  commonly 
supposed.  It  was  constructed,  not  with  a  view  to  the  accommodation  of  the  people 
generally,  like  Christian  places  of  worship,  as  they  were  not  permitted  to  enter  into  the 
intei-ior,  but  offered  their  prayers  and  sacrifices  in  the  front  of  the  building,  or  in 
its  outer  quadrangle.  The  body  of  the  building,  or  "  the  Holy  Place,"  admitted 
only  the  officiating  priests.  A  porch  extended  along  the  whole  eastern  front  of 
the  house,  which  rose  to  the  height  of  two  hundred  and  ten  feet.  At  its  entrance 
were  two  great  pillars  of  brass  (in  that  age  a  most  costly  metal)  sixty  feet  high, 
including  the  capital  and  base,  distinguished  by  the  names  of  Jachin  and  Boaz 
("  durability"  and  "  strength").  Whether  these  were  detached  obelisks,  like  those  foimd 
before  some  ancient  Egyptian  temples,  or  whether  they  supported  the  entablature 
of  the  porch,  is  a  disputed  point.  The  height  of  the  Temple  itself,  according  to 
Josephus,  was  sixty  cubits,  or  one  hundred  and  five  feet ;  but  in  1  Kings  vi.  2,  it  is 
given  at  only  thirty  cubits.  The  latter  was,  probably,  the  height  of  the  external 
walls  ;  the  former  of  the  raised  parts  of  the  interior.  The  length  of  the  building  was 
sixty  cubits,  and  its  width  twenty.  The  dimensions  of  the  sanctuary,  or  "  Holy 
Place,"  were  forty  cubits  long,  twenty  wide,  and  thirty  high.  The  "  Holy  of  Holies" 
formed  a  square  of  twenty  cubits.     Into  the  latter  chamber  none  but  the  high  pi-iest 

*  De  Bell.  Jud.  v.  5. 

t  A  cubit  was  equal  to  one  foot  nine  inches. 

J  "  In  the  sub-basement  of  the  great  temple  at  Baalbek,  there  is  one  stone  sixty-six  feet  in  length 
by  twelve  in  breadth  and  thickness,  with  others  of  not  greatly  inferior  size  ;  while  in  a  neighbouring 
quarry,  which  tradition  declares  to  be  that  from  which  Solomon  obtained  his  '  great  stones,'  are  stones 
of  equal  and  greater  dimensions,  cut  and  ready  for  use,  one  of  them  being  no  less  than  seventy  feet  in 
length  by  fourteen  feet  five  inches  in  thickness." — Kitto's  Bible  Illustrations,  vol.  iv.  p.  47. 


74  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

were  permitted  to  enter,  and  he  only  once  in  a  year,  on  the  great  day  of  atonement, 
Heb.  ix.  2 — 7.  Here  was  the  cloud  manifesting  the  Shechinah,  or  Divine  presence, 
which  was,  as  Dr.  Hales  observes,  "  at  the  west  end  of  the  sanctuary,  pointing,  as 
it  were,  towards  Calvary,  the  true  place  of  atonement  for  the  sins  of  mankind  ;  and 
also  to  distinguish  it  from  the  heathen  temples,  whose  adyta,  or  oracles,  usually 
fronted  the  east,   or  rising  sun,  the  grand  object  of  heathen  idolatry." 

The  "  Holy  of  Holies"  was  separated  from  the  outer  apartment  by  a  partition  of 
cedar,  and  folding  doors  of  olive-wood,  carved  with  cherubim,  palm-trees,  and  flowers, 
overlaid  with  gold.  A  similar  pair  of  doors,  of  larger  dimensions,  hung  on  massive 
golden  hinges,  or  pins,  formed  the  outer  entrance.  These  doors  were  left  open,  and 
the  space  covered  with  a  superb  veil  of  blue,  purple,  scarlet,  and  white  twined  linen 
yam.  The  court  of  the  priests  was  separated  from  the  court  of  the  congregation  by 
a  low  stone  balustrade  of  one  cubit  in  height ;  so  that  all  the  ritual  service  performed 
at  the  altar  was  open  to  the  view  of  those  who  stood  in  the  extended  space  without. 
The  different  courts  were  placed,  as  it  were,  in  terraces,  each  inner  court  being 
higher  than  the  next  outward  one:  thus  the  centre  of  the  Temple,  from  its  elevated 
position,  was  clearly  seen  from  every  part  of  the  city. 

The  inner  sides  of  the  walls  were  narrowed,  or  made  thinner,  as  they  ascended,  by 
shelvings  of  about  eleven  inches  in  width,  on  which  the  beams  of  the  several  parts 
rested,  without  the  necessity  of  inserting  the  ends  into  the  substance  of  the  wall :  "  so 
that  there  was  neither  hammer  nor  axe  nor  any  tool  of  iron  heard  in  the  house,  while 
it  was  in  building,"  1  Kings  vi.  7.  The  "narrow  lights,"  or  windows,  1  Kings  vi.  4,  in 
the  uppermost  stories  of  the  side  chambers,  were  probably  of  curious  lattice-work,  and 
chiefly  designed  for  ventilation.  The  "  Holy  Place"  was  lighted  by  the  lamps  of  the  ten 
golden  candlesticks ;  and  it  is  generally  understood  that  the  Holy  of  Holies  was  strictly 
an  adytum,  having  no  windows ;  and  that  to  this  circumstance  Solomon  alludes,  "  The 
Lord  said  that  he  would  dwell  in  the  thick  darkness,"  1  Kings  viii.  12.  The  wainscot 
of  the  walls  and  the  ceiling  were  ornamented  with  cedar,  beautifully  carved,  representing 
cherubim,  clusters  of  foliage,  and  fruit,  over  which  was  a  thick  coating  of  pure  gold. 
Some  of  these  latter  ornaments  were  combinations  of  the  most  "  precious  stones," 
2  Chron.  iii.  6,  which,  contrasting  with  the  gold,  produced  a  most  brilliant  effect. 
Planks  of  cedar,  veneered  with  fir,  and  covered  with  gold,  foi-med  the  floor :  the  doors 
were  chiefly  of  olive  wood. 

Though  the  Temple,  strictly  considered,  was  limited  in  its  dimensions,  the  whole 
site,  embracing  the  surrounding  courts,  store-chambers,  and  residences  of  the  officiating 
priests,  covered  a  large  extent  of  ground,  and  was  "  like  a  costly  gem  in  a  broad  setting 
of  gold."  In  our  plan  of  Solomon's  Temple,  the  outer  court  is  omitted,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  scale  from  being  too  much  limited :  it  was,  however,  similar  in  arrange- 
ment to  the  plan  of  Herod's  Temple,  engraved  on  the  same  plate. 

On  the  completion  of  the  Temple,  it  was  dedicated  by  Solomon  with  great  solemnity. 
The  ark  was  brought  from  its  tented  inclosure,  and  placed  in  the  "Holy  of  Holies,"  with 
sounds  of  thanksgiving  and  joy.  Numerous  sacrificial  offerings  were  made;  the  "glory 
of  the  Lord  filled  the  place,"  and  fire  descended  from  heaven,  and  consumed  the  sacri- 
fices on  the  altar.  At  these  manifestations  of  the  Divine  presence  and  approval,  all  the 
people  "  bowed  themselves  with  their  faces  to  the  ground,  and  praised  the  Lord,  saying. 
For  he  is  good ;   for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever,"  2  Chron.  vii.  1 — 3. 

This  superb  Temple  retained  its  pristine  splendour  only  thirty-three  years,  when  it 
was    plundered  by   Shishak,  king   of  Egypt,  (the   celebrated   Sesostris  of  the    Greek 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  '^ 

historian,)  1  Kings  xiv.  25,  26 ;  2  Chron.  xii.  9.  Under  the  Hebrew  kings  Jehoram 
and  Ahaziah  it  feU  into  great  decay,  but  was  repaired  about  the  year  b.c.  889.  After 
this  it  underwent  several  profanations  and  pillages,  until,  at  length,  it  was  utterly 
destroyed  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon.  When  the  Jews  returned  from  their 
captivity,  it  was  rebuilt  by  Zerubbabel,  whom  Cyrus  appointed  governor  of  Judea. 
The  dimensions  of  this  Temple  in  breadth  and  length  were  double  those  of  Solomon's. 
It  wanted,  however,  five  things  which  constituted  the  principal  glory  of  the  first 
Temple ;  namely,  the  ark  and  mercy-seat ;  the  visible  glory  of  the  Shechinah  ;  the  holy 
fire  on  the  altar ;  the  Urim  and  Thummim ;  and  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  This  Temple 
was  plundered  and  profaned  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  who  ordered  the  discontinuancte 
of  the  daily  sacrifice,  and  erected  his  idol,  Jupiter  Olympus,  on  the  altar  of  burnt- 
ofi"erino-.  About  three  years  after  this  desecration  it  was  repaired  and  beautified  by 
Judas  Maccabeus,  who  restored  Divine  worship.  This  second  Temple  stood  for  about 
five  hundred  years,  when,  being  much  decayed  by  the  lapse  of  time,  it  was  repaired,  or 
rather  gradually  reconstructed,  by  Herod  the  Great,  as  an  act  of  policy,  with  a  view  to 
ingratiate  himself  in  the  favour  of  his  Hebrew  subjects,  who,  notwithstanding  they 
denied  the  power,  were  much  attached  to  the  forms  of  religion.     But  though  rebuilt,  it 

was  still  called  by  the  Jewish  writers,  the  second  Temple. 

» 

HEKOD'S  TEMPLE. 

This  superb  building  employed  18,000  men,  for  more  than  nine  years,  in  its 
erection ;  but  additional  courts  were  added  from  time  to  time,  so  that  in  the  days  of 
our  Lord,  the  Jews  could  correctly  say,  that  forty- six  years  were  occupied  in  its 
constnaction,  John  ii.  20.  The  Temple  was  not  at  once  taken  down  with  a  view  to  its 
re-erection;  the  Jews  feared  that  the  king,  if  he  pulled  down  the  entire  building, 
would  be  unable  or  unwilling  to  accomplish  its  restoration.  Herod,  to  convince  them 
of  his  sincerity,  got  ready  a  thousand  wagons,  chose  out  ten  thousand  skilful  workmen, 
and  had  some  of  the  priests  taught  in  the  arts  necessary  to  his  purpose.  Josephus 
says,  that  with  respect  to  magnitude,  building,  and  the  splendour  of  its  ornaments, 
utensils,  and  furniture,  it  was  the  most  magnificent  structure  he  had  ever  seen.  "It 
was  built,"  says  he,  "on  a  hard  rock,  in  which  the  foundations  were  laid  at  an 
incredible  expense.  The  Temple  itself  was  sixty  cubits  high,  and  as  many  broad;  but 
in  the  front,  Herod  added  two  wings  or  shoulders,  each  of  which,  projecting  twenty 
cubits,  made  the  whole  length  of  the  front  one  hundred  cubits,  by  as  many  in  breadth. 
The  gate  was  seventy  cubits  high  and  twenty  broad ;  but  it  was  without  doors.  The 
stones  were  white  marble,  twenty-five  cubits  in  length,  twelve  in  height,  and  nine  in 
breadth,  all  polished  and  unspeakably  beautiful.  Instead  of  doors,  the  gate  was  closed 
with  veils,  flowered  with  gold,  silver,  purple,  and  everything  rich  and  curious.  At  each 
side  of  the  gate  were  two  pillars,  from  whence  hung  golden  festoons,  and  vines  with 
leaves  and  clusters  of  grapes  curiously  wrought." 

Court  of  the  Gentiles. — The  principal  entrance  on  the  east,  which  led  into  the  court 
of  the  Gentiles,  was  called  the  gate  Shushan,  derived  from  a  representation  of  the 
Persian  city  of  Shushan  portrayed  upon  it,  to  remind  the  Jews  of  their  captivity,  and 
that  they  might  not  again  fall  into  idolatry ;  or,  as  others  suppose,  to  commemorate  the 
wonderful  dehverance  of  the  Jewish  nation  from  the  malice  of  Haman,  when  they  were 
in  subjection  to  the  Persians.  At  this  gate  the  half-shekel  tribute  (Exod.  xxx.  13)  was 
collected  during  three  weeks  before  the  passover ;  and  here  sat  the  money-changers, 
ready  to  supply  Jewish  coins  for  the  Temple  dues  in  exchange  for  foreign  money. 


7e  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

There  were  other  gates;  all  of  which  had  towers  over  them.  This  outer  court  being 
assigned  to  the  Gentile  converts,  the  Jews,  who  in  later  times  did  not  worship  in  it 
themselves,  conceived  that  they  might  appropriate  it  to  secular  uses,  such  as  a  market  for 
the  sale  of  sacrificial  animals,  incense,  and  oil — a  practice  which  received  a  severe  rebuke 
from  our  Lord.  The  court  of  the  Gentiles  was  often  called  "the  mountain  of  the 
house,"  because  in  it  assembled  proselytes  from  all  nations  to  worship.  Further  than 
this  place  no  one  who  was  not  a  strict  Hebrew  was  allowed  to  approach.  Its  flooring 
consisted  of  pieces  of  marble  stones,  of  various  colours,  tastefully  and  smoothly 
ai-xano-ed.  The  wall  and  roof  of  the  Temple  generally  were  covered  with  polished  gold 
externally,  which  had  a  most  gorgeous  appearance  when  the  sun  shone  upon  them. 

Around  the  court  was  a  piazza,  or  covered  walk,  supported  by  massive  pillars  of 
white  marble,  and  crowned  with  a  ceiling  of  the  finest  cedar.  Along  these  covered 
wallis  were  convenient  seats  ;  and  the  place  furnished  a  pleasant  retreat  for  the  people 
in  sultiy  or  rainy  weather.  That  portion  of  the  piazza  lying  on  the  east  was  known  as 
"  Solomon's  porch,"  which  was  the  scene  of  our  Lord's  instructions,  and  the  miraculous 
power  of  his  apostles.  Above  this  were  galleries  or  apartments.  This  portico  is 
represented  by  Josephus  as  the  noblest  work  under  the  sun.  From  the  roof  of  this 
piazza,  the  view  down  into  the  depths  of  the  valley  below  was  very  impressive,  being,  it 
is  said,  no  less  than  750  feet.  The  extreme  angle,  or  pinnacle  of  this  part  of  the 
building,  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  spot  whence  Satan  tempted  our  Saviour  to 
precipitate  himself. 

Court  of  the  Women. — Standing  in  this  outer  court,  the  spectator  beheld  the  house 
of  the  Temple,  rising  with  lofty  magnificence,  and  inclosed  in  a  second  wall 
Immediately  before  him,  was  a  flight  of  steps  which  led  into  the  court  of  the  women. 
It  was  so  called,  not  because  it  was  occupied  exclusively  by  women,  but  because  they 
were  not  allowed  to  go  further  into  the  interior.  The  court  itself  was  a  level  space,  ten 
cubits  broad,  paved  with  marble.  On  the  sides  of  the  gates  were  tablets,  inscribed  in 
Greek  and  Latin,  prohibiting  an  entrance  to  all  Gentiles,  and  every  ceremonially 
polluted  person.  Directly  opposite  the  gate  Shushan  of  the  outer  court,  was  the 
eastern  gate,  richly  overlaid  with  Corinthian  brass,  which  is  thought  to  have  been  the 
gate  called  "Beautiful,"  at  which  the  lame  man  lay  to  ask  alms  of  those  who  were  going 
into  the  Temple,  Acts  iii.  2—11.  This  court  was  the  place  where  men,  as  well  as 
women,  ordinarily  performed  their  worship,  wlien  they  appeared  at  the  Temple  without 
bringing  sacrifices  with  them.  Here  Peter  and  John  used  to  go  up  with  others,  to 
pray  towards  the  Temple  of  the  Most  High,  Acts  iii.  1.  Here  it  was  that  the  self- 
righteous  Pharisee  and  broken-hearted  publican  appeared  at  the  same  time ;  the  one 
boldly  presenting  himself  close  up  to  the  gate  that  led  forward  to  the  interior,  and 
pleading  his  own  worthiness  before  a  holy  God ;  the  other  standing  afar  off,  near  the 
outer  door,  not  daring  to  lift  his-  head  toward  the  dwelling  place  of  the  Lord,  but 
smiting  upon  his  breast  and  crying,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  Luke  xviii. 
9 — 14.  Paul  was  in  the  same  court  when  he  was  violently  seized  by  his  countrymen, 
and  charged,  among  other  things,  with  having  brought  Gentiles  into  that  holy  place. 
Acts  xxi.  26 — 30.  This  court  was  the  place  of  the  "  treasury,"  where  the  people  pre- 
sented their  offerings  of  money  for  the  service  of  the  Temple.  Several  chests  or  vessels, 
called  "trumpets,"  because  they  were  wide  at  the  bottom  and  small  at  the  top,  were 
placed  in  some  part  of  it,  to  receive  the  gifts :  each  vessel  was  appointed  to  receive 
some  one  particular  class  of  offerings  :  one,  for  instance,  was  for  money  contributed 
to  buy  wood  for  the  altar ;  another,  for  money  to  buy  frankincense ;  and  so  the  rest 
for  different  uses.     Here  our  Saviour  beheld  the  people  casting  in  their  offerings,  when 


THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS.  77 

the  poor  widow  came  forward  with  her  two  mites,  and  cast  in  all  that  she  had,  Mark 
xii.  41 — 44.  In  this  part  of  the  Temple  it  was,  too,  that  he  delivered  some  of  his 
solemn  and  impressive  discourses,  teaching  the  people,  and  reproving  their  unbelief, 
John  viii.  20. 

The  Court  of  Israel. — Another  flight  of  steps  conducted  into  the  court  of  Israel. 
Besides  the  gate  leading  from  the  court  of  the  women,  there  were  three  other  gates  on 
the  north,  and  three  on  the  south,  by  which  the  court  of  Israel  might  be  entered. 
Around  this  inclosure  were  various  chambers,  in  which  the  Levites  deposited  their 
musical  instruments,  and  which  also  were  used  for  other  purposes  connected  with  the 
service  of  Divine  worship.  An  elegant  railing  divided  this  court  from  that  of  the 
priests,  so  that  the  Israelites,  who  there  came  to  attend  the  offering  of  sacrifices,  could, 
without  difficulty,  witness  the  ceremonj  in  the  inner  part  of  the  Temple. 

The  Court  of  the  Priests. — In  this  division  was  the  beautiful  building  of  the  Sanctuary, 
with  the  altar  of  burnt-offering  and  the  laver  standing  in  front  of  it.  Here  the  priests 
performed  their  daily  service.  Besides  these,  no  other  Israelite  might  pass  the  railing 
just  noticed,  except  Avhen  he  came  forward  solemnly  to  lay  his  hands  upon  the  head  of 
a  victim  that  he  presented  for  sacrifice,  or  to  wave  part  of  his  offering  before  the  Lord. 
Along  the  eastern  end  of  this  court,  facing  the  front  of  the  sanctuary,  was  another 
covered  porch.  Here  the  Levites  stood  in  a  row,  at  appointed  times,  "with  their 
various  instruments  in  their  hands,  playing  and  singing  with  a  loud  voice  to  the  praise 
of  the  most  high  God.  The  rest  of  this  covered  space,  before  the  narrow  range  set 
apart  for  the  use  just  mentioned,  was  for  the  accommodation  of  the  priests,  when  any  of 
them  were  not  called  to  be  employed  in  service  elsewhere  in  the  court.  There  were  no 
seats,  however,  provided  for  them  to  sit  upon  and  rest  themselves :  it  was  not  con- 
sidered lawful  for  persons  to  sit  at  all,  either  in  the  court  of  the  priests  or  in  the  court 
of  Israel,  around  it;  reverence  towards  God,  and  regard  for  the  holiness  of  these  places, 
were  required  to  be  continually  manifested  by  standing  on  the  feet."* 

The  Sanctuary,  or  the  Temple  proper,  as  it  stood  in  the  days  of  our  Lord,  was  larger 
in  its  dimensions  than  that  of  the  building  erected  by  Solomon,  though  constructed 
after  the  same  general  plan.  The  walls  of  this  part  were  built  of  large  blocks  of 
beautiful  white  marble.  They  rose  to  the  height  of  three  stories,  and  included  various 
chambers.  The  Holy  of  Holies  stood  in  its  midst,  but  was  entirely  empty,  excepting  a 
stone,  which  marked  the  place  once  occupied  by  the  ark  of  the  covenant.  This  stone 
was  sprinkled  by  the  high  priest  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  on  the  great  day  of 
atonement,  and  thereon  he  j)laced  the  censer  of  incense.  Before  the  entrance  were  two 
curtains  or  veils,  which  are  spoken  of  in  Scripture  and  by  Josephus  as  one,  as  they 
formed  one  partition.  These  veils  were  rent  asunder  from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  at  the 
moment  our  Lord  gave  up  the  ghost  on  the  cross,  which  signified  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
Jewish  dispensation  were  at  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the  clearer  revelation  of  the  gospel ; 
and  especially  that  the  way  of  access  to  God  was  now  opened,  Christ  having  entered  for 
us  with  his  own  blood  into  "  the  holy  place"  not  made  with  hands,  and  secured  for  all 
believers  holy  liberty  and  confidence  at  the  mei-ey  seat,  Heb.  ix.  7,  12. 

"  He  that  never  saw  Jerusalem  in  her  glory,"  say  the  Jewish  rabbis,  "  never  saw  a 
lovely  city ;  and  he  that  never  saw  the  Temple,  never  saw  the  most  noble  fabric  under 
the  sun."  While  we  make  some  allowance  for  the  exaggerated  mode  of  expression  of 
these  ancient  doctors,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  latter  building  was  of  extraordinary 
magnificence,  and  might  well  challenge  the  admiration  of  the  simple-minded  fishermen 
of  Galilee,  who  exclaimed,  "  Master,  see  what  manner  of  stones  and  what  buildings  are 

*  Nevin's  Biblical  Antiquities. 


r" 


78  THE  NEW  BIBLICAL  ATLAS. 

here !"  But  He  who  saw  the  ovenvhehiiing  judgments  that  were  at  hand,  replied,  "  Seest 
thou  these  great  buildings  ?  there  shall  not  be  left  one  stone  upon  another,  that  shall  not 
be  thrown  down."  And  so  it  came  to  pass,  in  less  than  forty  years.  The  Jews,  besieged 
by  the  Romans,  made  a  fortress  of  it ;  and  though  every  effort  was  made  by  Titus,  the 
Roman  general,  to  save  it  from  the  general  destruction,  wild  and  terrific  flames  wrapped 
the  glory  of  Moriah  in  utter  ruin.  The  remains  of  the  walls  were  afterwards  demolished 
to  the  foundation,  and  the  whole  ground  on  which  the  Temple  stood,  was,  according  to 
the  Romish  custom,  ploughed  up,  thus  fulfilling  the  Divine  prediction,  Micah  iii.  12. 
Its  site  is  now  occupied  by  a  Mohammedan  mosque. 

The  daily  services  of  the  Temple  were,  in  the  main,  the  same  as  in  the  tabernacle  in 
the  days  of  Aaron ;  though  a  variety  of  formal  and  trivial  observances  had  been 
associated  with  them  in  the  course  of  ages.  There  were  still  the  morning  and  evening 
sacrifice  of  the  lamb,  and  the  impressive  ceremonials  of  the  great  day  of  atonement,  by 
which  were  preserved  a  perpetual  remembrance  of  the  awful  guilt  and  demerit  of  sin, 
and  of  the  infinite  purity  and  justice  of  God.  At  the  same  time,  there  was  prefigured 
the  "  one  offering"  of  Christ,  as  "the  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  In  the  oblation  of  incense  on  the  golden  altar  was  typified,  in  a  lively  manner. 
His  mediation  who  has  entered  into  heaven  itself,  where,  as  the  High  Priest  of  his 
church,  he  ever  lives  to  plead  the  virtue  of  his  sacrificial  death.  And  in  the  washings 
and  purifications  of  the  brazen  laver  were  set  forth  the  need  of  universal  cleansing  by  the 
regenerating  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Thus,  while  on  the  altar  the  eye  of  faith  beheld, 
as  it  were,  this  inscription,  "  Without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission,"  so  on  the 
laver  it  might  discern  the  correlative  truth,  "  Without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord."  That,  however,  which  was  presented  to  the  ancient  Israelites  under  types  and 
ceremonies,  is  now  clearly  made  known  in  the  gospel,  and  the  "  fountain  opened  for  sin 
and  uncleanness"  is  free,  not  to  the  Jew  alone,  but  to  the  people  of  eveiy  nation  under 
heaven.  But  with  this  clearer  light  and  fuller  privilege  is  connected  a  more  solemn 
responsibility ;  for  if  "  he  that  despised  Moses'  law  died  without  mercy  vmder  two  or 
three  witnesses  :  of  how  much  sorer  punishment,  suppose  ye,  shall  he  be  thought 
worthy,  who  hath  trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  hath  counted  the  blood  of 
the  covenant,  wherewith  he  was  sanctified,  an  unholy  thing,  and  hath  done  despite  unto 
the  Spirit  of  grace  ?  "    Heb.  x.  28,  29. 


THE 


SCEIPTURE    GAZETTEER 


*5t*  The  Capital  numerals  indicate  the  number  of  the  Msqy  m  which  the  place  will  be  found ;  the 
words  in  italic  are  the  meanings  of  the  proper  names  so  far  as  they  can  be  ascertained. 


Ab'ana,  or  Am'ana  (the  constant),  a  Syrian  river, 
rising  in  Mount  Hermon,  and  flowing  through 
the  city  of  Damascus,  2  Kings  v.   12.     [IV., 

Ab'akim  {iMssages),d.  chain  of  mountains  in  the  east 

of  Canaan,  the  most  noted  of  which  were  Nebo, 

Pisgah,  and  Peor,  Num.  xxvii.  12.     [III.,  IV., 

IX.] 

Ab'don  (a  servant),  a  Levitical  cityin  Asher,  Josh. 

xxi.  30. 
A'bel  [mourning,  ov plain),  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Sam. 

vi.  18. 
A'bel-Beth-Ma'achah  [plain  of  the  house  of  Ma- 
achah),  a  to^vn  in  the  north  of  Canaan,  2  Sam. 
XX.  14.     [IV.,  VI.] 
A'bel-Ma'im  [plain  of  the  waters),  the  same   as 

Abel-Beth-Maachah,  2  Chron.  xvi.  4. 
A'bel-Meho'lah  [the  plain  of  weakness),  a  town  in 
Simeon,  and  the  birth-place  of  Elisha,   Judg. 
Yii.  22.     [IV.] 
A'bel-Miz'raim  [mourning  of  the  Egtjptians),  a  place 
on  the  west  of  the  Jordan,  where  the  Egyptians 
moiirned  the  death  of  Jacob  ;  previous  to  which 
it  was  known  as  Atad,  Gen.  1.  11. 
A'bel-Shit'tim  [the  plain  of  acacias),   a  towTi  of 
Moab,  east  of  the  Jordan,  Num.  xxiv.  l._   [IV.] 
A'bez  [muddy),  a  to-vvn  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  20. 
Abile'ne   [the  father  of  mourning),   a  district  so 
called  from  its  chief  town  AbUa,  in  the  north 
of  Palestine,  extending    southward  to   mount 
Hermon,  Luke  iii.  1.     [VI.] 
Ac'cAD,  one  of  the  cities  built  by  Nimrod,  in  Baby- 
lon, Gen.  X.  20.     [I.,  II.] 
Ac'oHO  [inclosed),  a  seaport  on  the  Mediterranean, 
in  the  tribe  of  Asher ;  the  ancient  Ptolemais, 
and  the  modern  St.  Jean  d'Acre,  Judg.  i.  31 ; 
Acts  xxi.  7.     [II.,  IV.,  v.,  IX.] 
Acel'dama  [the  field  of  blood),  a  plot  of  ground  on 
the  outside  of  the  southern  wall  of  Jerusalem, 
called    also  "  the  potter's  field,"  Matt,  xxvii. 
8, 10.     [VIII.] 
Acha'ia,  a  region  of  Greece  (now  known  as  the 
Morea)  occupying  the  north-western  portion  of 
the  Peloponnesus  ;  Corinth  was  its  capital,  Acts 
xviii.  12.     [Il.i  VII.] 
Ach'metha   [treasury),  in  Greek  authors,  Ecba- 

tana,  the  capital  of  Media,  Ezra  vi.  2.     [II,] 
A'cHOR,    [trouble),  a  valley  near  Jericho,  on  the 

north  of  Judah,  Josh.  vii.  26. 
Ach'shaph,  a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites  in  Asher, 
Josh.  xi.  1.     [IV.] 


Ach'zib,  a.  a  town  on  the  sea-coast  in  Asher ; 
called  by  the  Greeks  Ecdippa,  now  Dsib,  Josh. 
xix.  29.    [IV.] ;8.    a  town  on  the  plains  of 

Judah,  Josh.  xv.  44  ;  Micah  i.  14 ;  possibly  the 

same  as  Chezib,  Gen.  xxxviii.  5. 
Aceab'bim   [scorpiions) ,  hills  to  the  south  of   the 

Dead  Sea,  much  infested  with  scorpions,  Num. 

xxxiv.  4  ;    Maaleh-Acrabbim  [ascent  or  steep  of 

scorpions),  Josh.  xv.  3.      [IV.,  Vl.,  IX.] 
Ad'adah,  a  town  in  the  south  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv. 

22. 
Ad'am  [earthy),  a  town  on  the  Jordan,  Josh.  iii.  16. 
Ad' AMAH  [I'cd  earth),  a  tovsm  in  Naphtali,  Josh. 

xix.  36. 
Ad'ami  [earthy),  a  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  33. 
A'dar,  the  same  as  Hadar-Azzar,  a  town  in  Julah, 

Num.  xxxiv.  4. 
Aditha'im,  a  tovni  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  36. 
Ad'mah  [i-ed  earth),  one  of  the  cities  in  the  vale  of 

Siddim  destroyed  with  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 

Gen.  X.  19. 
Adora'im,  a  town  in  the  south  of  Judah,  2  Chron. 

xi.  9.     [V.] 
Adramyt'tium  [court  of  death) ,  a  city  on  the  coast 

of  Mysia,  Asia  Minor,  Acts  xxvii.  2.     [II.,  VII.] 
A'dria,  the  Adriatic  Sea,  Acts  xxvii.  27.      [II., 

VII.] 
Adul'lam,  a.  a   cave,  1  Sam.  xxii.  1.     [VI.] 

/3.   a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites,  Josh.  xii.  15. 

[IV.,  v.] 
Adum'mim,  an  ascending  road  between  Gilgal  and 

Jerusalem,  much  infested  with  robbers.   Josh. 

XV.  7. 
Aha'va,  a.  an  Assyi-ian  town,  Ezra  viii.  15. 

jS.  the  river  on  which  the   town  stands,  Ezra, 

■^dii.  21,  31. 
Ah'lab,  a  town  in  Asher,  Judg.  i.  31.     [IV.] 
A'l   [heap),     a.    a  Canaanitish  city  in  Benjamin, 

Gen.  xii.  8,  (Hai).  [V.] j3.  an  Ammonitish 

city,  Jer.  xlix.  3, 
Ai'JA,  the  same  as  Ai,  Neh,  xi,  31,  and  Aiath,  Isa, 

X.  28. 
A'lN  [a  fountain),  a.  a  Levitical  city  in  Simeon, 

Josh.  XV.  32. /3.    a  town  in  Northern  Pales- 
tine, near  the  source  of  the  Jordan,  Num.  xxxiv. 

2.    [IV.,  v.,  VL] 
A'jALON  [strength),  a.  a  valley,  and  Levitical  town 

in  Dan,  Josh.  x.  12;  Judg.  i.  35,  (Aijalon).  [IV., 

v.] p.  a  town  in  Zebulon,  Judg.  xii.  12. 

Alam'melech  [God  is  King),  a  town  in  Asher,  Josh. 

xix.  26. 


80 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


Ale'meth,  a  Levitical  to^v'n  in  Benjamin,  1  Chron. 
■vi.  60,  perhaps  the  same  as  Almon,  Josh.  xxi. 
18. 

Alexan'dria,  on  the  Mediterranean  coast,  capital 
of  Egypt  under  the  Ptolemies  ;  built  by  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  Acts  xviii.  24.     [II.,  VII.] 

Al'lon,  a  to\vn  in  Naphthali,  Josh.  xix.  33. 

Al'mox  {hidden),  a  Levitical  town  in  Benjamin, 
Josh.  xxi.  18. 

Al'mon  Diblatha'im,  an  Israelitish  station  in  the 
desert  of  Sinai,  near  Moab,  Num.  xxxiii.  46. 

A'loth,  a  district  probably  in  or  near  Asher,  1 
Kiiigs  iv.  16. 

A'lu.sii,  an  Israelitish  station  on  the  route  to  Sinai, 
Num.  xxxiii.  13. 

A'mad,  a  town  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  26. 

Am'alek,  Am'alekites  [a  people  that  strike),  a.  an 
ancient  people,  the  descendants  of  Esau  through 
Amalek,  inhabiting  the  region  south  of  Pales- 
tine ;  also  dwelling  on  the  east  of  the  Dead  Sea, 

and  Mount  Serr,  Gen.  xiv.  7.   [II.,  HI.,  V.] 

/3.  Amalek,  a  mountain  in  Ephi-aim,  on  wliich  the 
city  of  Phathon  was  buUt,  Judg.  xii.  15. 

A'mam,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  26. 

Am'axNA,  see  Ab'ana  ;  also  an  eastern  summit  of 
Lebanon,  Sol,  Song,  iv.  8. 

Am'mak  [nuj  people),  a  lull  where  Asahel  was  slain 
by  Abner,  2  Sam.  ii.  24. 

Am'monites  {sons  of  my  people),  a  nation  descended 
fi-om  Lot  through  his  son  Ammon,  inhabiting 
the  region  between  the  rivers  Jabbok  and  Am- 
mon, Gen.  xix.  38.    [IV.  V.,  VI.] 

A'morites  {rebels),  the  descendants  of  the  fourth 
son  of  Canaan,  and  the  most  powerful  of  the 
C-anaanites ;  a  nation  dwelling  on  both  sides  of 
the  Jordan,  Gen.  xiv.  7.     [in.,  IV.] 

Amphip'olis,  a  cily  of  Greece,  and  the  capital  of 
Macedonia,  situate  on  the  river  Strymon,  Acts 

x^-ii.  1.   [n.,  VII.] 

A'xAB  {cluster  of  graves),  a  town  in  the  mountauis 

of  Judah,  Josh.  xi.  21.     [V.] 
Anaha'rath,  a  town  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  19. 
An'akim,  a  Canaanitish  nation,  remarkable  for  their 

stature,  who  inhabited  Hebron  and  other  towns 

in  the  south.     They  consisted  of  three  tribes, 

named  after  the  sons  of  Anak,  Num.  xiii.  22. 
An'amim,  a  people  of  Egj-pt  or  its  ^^.cinity ;  their 

exact  locality  not  known.  Gen.  x.  13.     [I.] 
.■V>-ani'ah,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Neh.  xi.  32. 
Ax'athoth,  a  Levitical  town  and  city  of  refuge  in 

Benjamin,   and  birth-place  of  Jeremiah,  Josh. 

xxi.  18  ;  (1  Chron.  xi.   28.     Antothite.)     [IV., 

v.] 

A'nem,  a  Levitical  city  in  Issachar,  1  Chron.  vi. 
73,  the  same  as  En-gannim,  Josh.  xix.  21, 

A'ner,  a  Le-sitical  city  in  Manasseh,  1  Chron.  vi. 
70. 

A'kim,  a  to-rni  in  the  hUl  coimtry  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  50. 

Anti-Leb'anon,  or,  Anti-Lib'anus,  a  range  of 
mountains  in  the  north  of  Palestine,  running 
nearly  parallel  to  Lebanon,  of  which  the  highest 
point  is  Mount  Hermon,  the  modem  Jebel-esh 
sheikh,  10,000  feet  high.     [VII.] 

An'tiocii,  a.  the  capital  of  SjTia,  where  the  dis- 
ciples were  first  called  Christians,  Acts  vi.  5.  [II., 
v.,  VII.] — ■ — /3.  a  city  of  Pisidia,  Asia  Minor, 
visited  by  Paul  and  Barnabas,  Acts  xiii.  14.  [VII.] 

Antipa'tris  {against  his  father),  a  city  bmlt  by 
Herod  the  Great,  on  the  site  of  Caphar-saba,  be- 
tween Caesarea  and  Lydia,  Acts  xxiii.  31. 


A'piiAR,  Aphar'sites,  a  nation  of  whom  a  colony 
was  brought  to  Samaria,  Ezra  iv.  9. 

Aphau'sachites,  Ezra  v.  6,  and  Apharsathchites, 
Ezra  iv.  9,  two  Assyrian  nations  otherwise  un- 
known, unless  they  be  taken  as  the  same. 

A'PHEK  {a  stream),  a.  a  royal  Canaanitish  city  in 

Issachar,  Josh.  xii.  18.     [IV.] j3.   a  city  in 

Asher,  Josh.  xiii.  4,  xix.  30;  called  Aphik,  Judg. 

i.  31.     [IV.] y.  a  town  in  SjTia,  near  which 

Benhadad  was  defeated,  1  Kings  xx.  26 ;  2  Kmgs 
xiii.  17. 

Aphe'kah,  a  town  u\  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  53. 

Apollo'nia,  a  city  of  Macedonia,  Acts  x\ii.  1. 
[II.,  VII.] 

Ap'pii-Fo'rum  {village  ofAppius),  a  market-town  m 
Italy,  about  fifty  miles  from  Rome,  named  after 
Appius  Claudius,  whose  statue  was  placed  here, 
Acts  xxiii.  15.     [I.,  VIII.] 

Ar,  the  capital  of  Moab,  situate  on  the  Amon, 
called  also  Kabbah,  and  Ariel.  Its  later  Greek 
name  was  Areopolis,  Num.  xxi.  15,  28.  [III., 
IV.] 

A'rab,  a  to^vn  in  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  52.  Hence  probably  the  Gentile  noun 
Arbite,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  35. 

Ar'abah,  in  the  authorized  version,  translated 
"  plain,"  but  in  the  original  it  has  the  article  as 
a  proper  name — the  Arabah  ;  the  valTey  of  the 
Jordan  prolonged  n-om  the  Dead  Sea  to  the 
Elanitic  Gulf,  Deut.  i.  1;  (Isa.  xxxiii.  9,  a  wilder- 
ness.    Auth.  Ver.) 

Ar'abah,  or,  Beth  Ar'abah,  a  town  in  Benjamin, 
Josh.  x\iii.  18 ;  the  inhabitants  called  Arbathites, 
2  Sam.  xxiii.  31. 

Ara'bia  {desert  place),  "the  east  country,"  or 
properly  the  south-east  country,  inhabited  chiefly 
by  the  descendants  of  Ishmael,  or  "  children  of 
the  east,"  1  Kings  x.  1.  [I.,  U.,  III.]  (Ezek. 
xxxviii.  13,  Sheba).     See  page  7. 

A'rad,  a  Canaanitish  town  and  country  in  the  south 
of  Palestine,  Num.  xxi.  1  ("  the  king  of  Arad," 
Josh,  xii,  14.)     [III.,  IV.,  v.] 

A'ram  {the  high  land),  a  name  given  to  Syria.  See 
page  14.     [II.,  III.] 

a.  A'ram-Beth-Rehob,  the  same  as  Beth-Rehob, 
2  Sam.  X.  8.     [II.] 

/3.  A'ram-Dame'sek  {i.e.),  Syria  of  Damascus,  2 
Sam,  viii.  5,  6.     [II.,  V.] 

y.  A'baji-Ma'achah,  1  Chron.  xix.  6,  or  simply 
Maachah,  2  Sam.  x.  6,  8.     [II.] 

5.  A'ram-Na'hara'im  {Aram  of  the  two  rivers,  i.e., 
the  Euphrates  and  the  Tigris),  see  Mesopotamia, 
p.  16.     [II.,  v.] 

6.  A'ram-Pa'dan  {the  loxclands  of  Aram),  in  Meso- 
potamia, Gen.  XXV.  20.     [H-] 

^.  A'ram-Zo'bah,  see  Zobah.    [II. ,V.] 
Ara'rat  {^nountain  of  descent),  the  name  of  a  dis- 
trict and  a  movmtain  in  Armenia.     Gen.  viii.  4. 

[II.] 
Ab'bathi'tes,  see  Arabah. 
Ar'chevi'tes,  the  inhabitants  of  Erech,  a  city  of 

Babylonia,  Ezra  iv.  9. 
Ar'chi,  an  \mknown  place  in  Palestine,  probably  in 

Ephraun,  Josh.  x\-i.  2. 
Areop'agus  {the  hill  of  Mars),  a  hill  in  Athens,  on 

which  a  court  of  justice  was  held.  Acts  xvii. 

19. 
Ar'gob,  or  Gaulonitis,  a  firuitful  disti-ict  in  Bashan, 

Deut.  iii.  14.     [IV.,  VI.] 
I  Arimathe'a,  a  town  near  to  Ramah  or  Ramlet,  by 


THE  SCEIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


bl 


some  supposed  to  be  the  same  place,  Matt,  xxvii. 

57.     [VI.] 
A.Rii'iTES,  a  Canaanitish  tribe  inhabiting  a  district 

at  the  foot  of  Mount  Lebanon,  Gen.  x.  17.  [III.,V.] 
Akmaged'don,  conjecttired  to  mean  "  i!Ae  mount  of 

Meglddo,"  a  valley  formmg  the  great  plaiji  of  Es- 

draelon,  Rev.  xvi.  16.    SeeMegiddo. 
Arme'nia,  or  the  land  of  Ararat.   See  page  15.   [II., 

VII.] 
Ar'non  {leaping  f 07-  joy),  a  district  and  stream  in 

Moab  ;  the  present  name  of  the  latter  is  Moojeb, 

Numb.  xxi.  13.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
Ar'oer  {heath),    a.  town   on  the    northern  banks 

of  the  Arnon,  Deut.  ii.  36.     [IV.] /3.  a  town 

on  the  river  of  Gad,   an  arm  of  the   Jabbok, 

Numb,  xxxii.  34. y.  a  town  in  Simeon,  1  Sam. 

XXX.  28  ;   (1  Chron.  xi.  44,  "Aroerite"). 
Ar'pad,  a  town  and  region  m  Syria,  near  Hamath, 

2  Kings  xviii.  34. 
Arphax'ad,  the  third  son  of  Shem,  who  gave  his 

name  to  a  people  or  region  in  Northern  Armenia, 

Gen.  X.  22. 
Ar'uboth,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Kings  iv.  10. 
Aru'mah,  or  Ru'mah,  a  town  near  Shechem,  Judg. 

ix.  41. 
Ar'vad,  a  maritime  city  of  Phoenicia,  Ezek.  xxvii, 

8  ;  hence  the  Gentile  noun,  Arvadite,  Gen.  x.  18. 

[II.,  v.] 

A'sHAN,  a  Levitical  city,  in  tribe  of  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  42. 
A'sHAN,  a  Levitical  tOAvn  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  42  ; 

xix.  7  (Ashen)  :  the  same  as  Chor-ashan,  1  Sam, 

XXX.  30. 
Ash'dod,  one  of  the  five  chief  cities  of  the  Philistines: 

it  was  theAzotus  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  now 

an  Arab  village  called  Esdud,  Josh.  xi.  22. [IV.] 
Ash'doth-Pis'gah,  a  city  of  Reuben,  near  Pisgah, 

Josh.  xii.  3. 
Ash'er  {blessedness),  a.  the  son  of  Jacob,  by  Zilpah, 

the  father    of  one  of  the  twelve  tribes.   Gen. 

XXX.  13. )3.  a  tOAvn  on  the  borders  of  Manas- 

seh.  Josh.  xvii.  7.     [IV.] 
Ash'kenaz,  a  descendant  of  Japheth,  Gen.  x.  3, 

who  gave  his  name  to  a  country  mentioned  ■nith 

Ararat  and  Minni,  and  to  the  sea  now  knowii  as 

the  Black  Sea,  Jer.  U.  27.     [I.] 
Ash'nah,  the  name  of  two  cities  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv. 

33,  43. 
Ash'taroth  (y?ocAs),  Ash'teroth-Karna'im,  a  town 

of  Bashan,  included  in  the  territory  of  the  half 

tribe  of  Manasseh,  and  assigned  to  the  Le\ites, 

Gen.  xiv.  5.     [II.,  IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
A'siA,  that  is.  Proconsular  Asia,  a  part  of  Asia 

Minor,  Acts  ii.  9.     [II.,  VII.]    Seep.  43. 
As'kelon,  or  AsH'KELON.oneof  thefive  cities  of  the 

Philistines  ;  still  called  Asculan,  (Josh.  xiii.  3, 

Eshkalonite,)  Judg.  i.  18.    [III.,  IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
Assh'ur,  a  son  of  Shem,  progenitor  of  theAssyrians, 

Gen.  X.  22.   [L] 
Assh'urim,  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  xxv.  3;  2  Sam. 

ii.  9. 
As'sos,  a  seaport  of  Lesser  Mysia,  in  the  ^gean  Sea, 

Acts  XX.  13.     [IL,VII.] 
As'sYRiA  (happy),  an  ancient  kingdom  of  Asia.  See 

p.  13.     [I.,  II.,  v.]   As'sYRiANs,  2Kingsxv.  19, 

29. 
A'tad,  a  threshing-floor,  the  burial-place  of  Joseph; 

afterwards  called  Abel-Mizraim,  Gen.  1.  10. 
At'aroth,    o.   Ataroth-Beth- Joab,    in    Judah,    1 

Chron.    ii.     54.    0.      Ataroth-addar,     in 

Ephraim,  Josh.  xvi.  5,  7.  [IV.] 7.  Atai'Oth- 


Shophan,  in  Gad,  Numb,  xxxii.  34. 5.  Ata- 

roth,  in  Reuben,  Numb,  xxxii.  3.  [IV.] 
A'thach,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xxx.  30. 
Atii'ens,  the  capital  of  Attica  in  Greece,  Acts  xvii. 

16.     [II.  VII.] 
Ath'erim  {"the  ivay  of  the  spies,"  in  Auth.  Vers.), 

Numb.  xxi.  1. 
Attali'a,  a  maritime  city  of  Pamphylia,  now  called 

Adalia,  Acts  xiv.  25.   [VII.] 
A'vA,  most  probably  a  Syrian   or  Mesopotamian 

town,  2  Kings  xvii.  24. 
A'vEN,  a.  the  same  as  On,  Ezek.  xxx.  17. j8.  the 

the  same  as  Beth-aven,  IIos.  x.  8. 7.  Plain  of 

Aven,  some  valley  near  Damascus,  Amos  i.  5. 
A'viM,   o.  the  inhabitants  of  Ava,  2  Kings  x\-ii. 

31. ;3.  inliabitants  of  Philistia,  Deut.  Li.  23  ; 

7.  a  town,inBenjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  23.    [III.] 

A'viTH,  the  chief  city  of  Hadad,  king  of  Edom, 

Gen.  xxxvi.  35. 
A'zAL,  a  place  in  or  near  Jerusalem,  Zech.  xIa'.  5. 
At.'e'^k'b.  {strength  of  toalls),  a  town  in  the  lowlands 

of  Judah,  Josh.  X.  10.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
A'zEM,  a  place  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  29  ;  (1  Chron. 

iv.  29,  Ezem.) 
Az'maveth,  a  city  in  Judah,  Ezra  ii.  24. 
Az'mon,  a  place  in  Judah,  Numb,  xxxiv.  4. 
Az'noth-ta'ror;  or,  the  southern  border  of  Naph- 

tali.  Josh.  xix.  34. 
Azo'tus.     See  Ashdod. 
Az'zAH,  or  Ga'za,  a  town  in  Philistia,  Deut.  ii,  23, 

Ba'al  (the  Sim,  or  lord),  a.  a  town  in  Simeon,  called 

Baalath-Beer,  1  Cliron.  iv.  33. /3.  a  mountain, 

Numb.  xxii.  41. 
Ba'al- AH,  a.  city  of  Judah,  the  same  as  Baale  of 

Judah,  Kii'gath-Baal,  or  Kirgath-Jearim,  Josh. 

XV.  9. j8.  a  moimtam.  Josh.  xv.  11. 

Ba'alath,  a.  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  44. /3.  a  city  in 

Lebanon,  built  by  Solomon,  1  Kings  ix,  8,   [II., 

IV.,  v.] 
Ba'alath-Be'er,  a  town  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  8. 
B  a'albec,  a  magnificent  city  in  Ccelo-  Syria,  in  which 

was  a  celebrated  temple  dedicated  to  Baal,  or 

the  sun:  its  ruins  show  its  former  splendour: 

supposed  to  be  mentioned  in  the  Bible  under 

the  name  Baal-Gad.    [IV.,  IX.] 
Ba'al-Gad  (idol  of  the  troop),  the  northern  limit 

of  the  conquests  of  Joshua,  and  an  ancient  seat 

of  Syrian  idolatry  ;  afterwards  known  as  Baal- 

bec.  Josh.  xi.  17.     [IV.] 
Ba'al-Ham'on,  a  Adneyard,  belonging  to  Solomon, 

in  the  valley  of  the  Lebanon,  Sol.  Song  viii.  11. 
Ba'al  Ha'zor,     in    Ephraim,    a    pasture-ground 

belonging  to  Absalom,  2  Sam.  xiii.  23.     [IV.] 
Ba'al-Her'mon,  a  mountain  near  Hermon,  Judg. 

iii.  3.     [VI.] 
Ba'al-Me'on    (the  master  of  the  house),  or  Beth- 

Me'on,  a  town  in  Reuben,  Numb,  xxxii.   38, 

[IV.] 
Ba'al-Pe'or,  a  mountain  of  the  range  Abarim, 

Numb,  xxiii.  28. 
Ba'al-Per'azim  (master  of  divisions),  3.  mountain  on 

the  south  of  Jerusalem,  2  Sam,  v.  20  ;  1  Chron. 

xiv.  11. 
Ba'al-Shal'isha    {the    third   idol),   town    in    the 

plains  of  Shai-on,  near  Gilgal,  2  Kings  iv.  42. 
Ba'al-Ta'mar  (master  of  the  palm-tree),  village  in 

Benjamin,  Judg.  xx.  33. 
Ba'al-Ze'phon  (idol  of  the  iiorth),  a  promontoi-y  of 

the  Red  Sea,  on    which    an    idol-temple  was 

erected,  Exod,  xiv.  2  j  Numb,  xxxiii.  7, 


82 


THE  SCRIPTUEE  GAZETTEEK. 


Ba'bel,  Bab'yi.on  {cifij  ofconfusioi})  (.See  Slieshach, 
Shinar),  the  metropolis  of  the  Babylonian  em- 
pii-e,  situate  on  tlie  river  Euphrates,  and  cele- 
brated for  its  great  extent,  strength,  and  opu- 
lence :  it  is  often  used  in  a  wider  sense  for  the 
Persian  empii'c.  Gen.  x.  10  ;  xi.  9.    [I.,  II.] 

Ba'ca  [mulberry -trees),  a  valley,  by  some  placed  in 
the  northern  part  of  Talestine  ;  by  others,  near 
to  Jerusalem,  Psa.  Ixxxiv.  G. 

Bahu'rim,  a  place  not  far  from  Jerusalem,  beyond 
the  mount  of  Olives,  2  Sam.  iii.  16;  (2  Sam.  xxiii. 
31,  Barhumitc)  ;   (1  Chron.  xi.  33,  Baharumite). 

Ba'lah,  a  place  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  3. 

Ba'moth,  Ba'moth-ba'al,  a  town  in  Reuben, 
Numb.  xxi.  19 ;  (the  high  places  of  Baal,  Josh, 
xiii.  17.) 

Ba'shan,  the  northern  part  of  the  region  beyond 
Jordan,  called  Batansea  by  the  Greek  ^vl•iters :  the 
modern  name  is  el-Betenyeh,  Numb,  xxi,  33. 
[II.,  III.,  IV.,  v.] 

Ba'siiax-iia'voth-ja'ie,  {the  villages  of  Jair),  sixty 
walled  cities  in  the  country  of  Argob,  in  Bashan, 
Deut.  iii.  4,  14. 

Bath-rab'bim,  a  valley  or  tower,  Sol.  Song  ^-ii.  4. 

Bf/aloth,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  24 ;  or  "in  Aloth," 
1  Kings  iv.  16. 

Be'er  {the  well),  a.  a  tovai  in  Benjamm,  Judg.  ix. 

21.      [IV.] /3.  same  as  Beer-elim  in  Moab, 

an  Israelitish  station.  Numb.  xxi.  16. 

Be'er-e'lim  {the  well  of  the  mighty  ones),  a  well  dug 
by  the  staves  of  the  Israelitish  princes. 

Be'er-laha'i-roi  {the  loell  of  him  that  sees  me),  a 
fountain  in  the  wilderness  neai'  to  Shur,  Gen.  xvi. 
14  ;  xxiv.  62  ("the  well  Lahai-roi,"  xxv.  11.) 

Bee'roth,  a  city  in  Benjamin,  about  eight  miles 
from  Jerusalem,  Josh,  xviii.  25.     [V.] 

Bee'roth-be'ne-Ja'akan  {Beeroth  of  the  children  of 
sorrow),  Deut.  x.  6. 

Be'er-she'ra  {tvell  of  the  oath),  a  town  on  the 
southern  border  of  Palestine,  which  still  retains 
its  ancient  name,  and  possesses  two  wells  of 
excellent  water.  Gen.  xxi.  14.  [III.,  IV.,  V., 
VI.,  IX.] 

Beesh'terah,  perhaps  the  same  as  Ashtaroth,  a 
Levitical  city  in  Manasseh,  Josh.  xxi.  27. 

Be'la-zo'ar,  the  smallest  of  the  cities  of  the  plain 
of  Sodom,  Gen.  xiv.  2. 

Ben-eb'erak,  a  town  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  45. 

Be'ne-ja'akan.    See  Beeroth. 

Ben'jamin  {so7i  of  the  right  hmid),  a  tribal  division  of 
Canaan,  given  to  the  descendants  of  the  youngest 
son  of  Jacob,  Josh,  xviii.  11.     [IV.] 

Be'on,  a  district  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  Numb. 
xxxii.  3. 

Ber'achah  {valley  of  blessing),  in  Judah,  2  Chron. 
XX.  26. 

Bere'a,  city  of  Macedonia,  afterwards  called  Ire- 
nopolis,  and  now  Boor,  Acts  xvii.  10.  [II., 
VII.] 

Be'red,  in  the  wilderness  of  Sheor,  Gen.  xvi.  14. 

Ber'othai  {wells),  city  in  Syria,  conquered  by 
David,  2  Sam.  viii.  8. 

Be'sor,  stream  in  the  south  of  Judah  that  enters 
the  Mediterranean  Sea  near  Gaza,  1  Sam.  xxx.  9. 

Be'tah,  city  in  Syria,  2  Sam.  viii.  8.     [V.] 

Be'tex,  city  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  25. 

Bethab'ara  {house  of  passage),  village  and  ford  on 
the  Jordan,  near  Jericho,  where  John  baptized, 
John  i.  8. 

Beth'axath  {ho%ise  of  affliction),  town  in  Naphtali, 
Josh.  xix.  38.     [IV.] 


Beth'anoth  {house  of  tcaters),  a  town  in  Judah, 
Josh.  XV.  59. 

Beth'any  {house  of  so?ig),  town  or  village  on  tlie 
eastern  side  of  the  mount  of  Olives,  about  fif- 
teen fiulongs  E.s.E.  from  Jerusalem,  Matt, 
xxvi.  6.     [V.,  VI.] 

Beth-ar'abah  {house  of  the  plain),  town  on  the 
borders  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  Josh.  xv.  6,  61. 

Beth-a'ram,  a  town  in  Gad,  Josh.  xiii.  27.     [IV.] 

Beti£-ar'bel  {houi-e  of  the  ambush),  called  also  Ar- 
bela,  a  wild  region,  fUled  with  caves,  on  the 
western  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  formerly  the 
haujit  of  robbers,  Hos.  x.  14. 

Beth-a'ven  {ho2ise  of  idolatry),  a.  ato'wn  in  Benja- 
min, Josh.  vii.  2. /8.  a  wilderness,  Josh.x  viii.  12. 

y.  a  name  given  to  Bethany,  when  it  became 

an  idolatrous  city,  Hos.  iv.  15, 

Beth-az'maveth  {house  of  the  strength  of  death), 
town  in  Judahor  Benjamin,  near  Jerusalem,  Neh. 
vii.  28  ;  or  simply  Azmaveth,  Neh.  xii.  29. 

Beth-ba'al-me'on,  or  Ba'al-jie'on  {hottse  of  the 
idol),  citjs  in  Reuben,  Josh.  xiii.  17. 

Beth-ba'ka,  the  same  as  Bethabara,  Judg.  vii.  24. 

Beth-bir'ei,  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  1  Chron.  iv.  31. 

Beth'car  {house  of  pasture),  town  in  the  south  of 
Palestine,  near  Mizpeh,  1  Sam,  vii.  11. 

Beth-da'gon  {house  of  Bagon,  or  the  fish),  a.  town 

in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  41. j3.    a  town  near  to 

Joppa,  Josh.  xix.  27.     [IV.,  V.] 

Beth-diblatha'im  {house  of  dry  figs),  town  of  the 
Moabites,  Jer.  xlviii.  22. 

Beth-e'den  ijiouse  of  Eden),  near  Damascus,  Amos 
i.  5. 

Beth-e'ked,  or  "shearing-house,"  2  Kings  x.  12. 

Beth'el  {the  house  of -God),  previously  called  Luz, 
(see  also  Beth-aven)  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
situate  between  two  valleys  on  the  road  to 
Shechem,  Gen.  xii.  8.  It  was  also  called  Beth-ar. 
[IV.,  v.,  VI.]     Mount  Bethel,  Josh.  xvi.  1, 

Beth-e'mek,  town  in  Asher,  Josh,  xix,  27, 

Bethes'da  {house  of  mercy),  pool  near  the  sheep- 
gate  of  Jerusalem,  John  v.  2.     [VIII.] 

'Bbtu-b'z'eIj  {house  of  the  tieighbour),  a  village  near 
Samaria,  Mic.  i.  11. 

Beth-ga'der,  the  same  as  Gederah,  a  town  in 
Judah,  Josh.  xv.  36. 

Beth-ga'mul  {house  of  the  camel),  town  in  Moah, 
Jer.  xlviii.  23.     [IV.] 

Beth-hac'cerem  {house  of  the  vineyard),  a  hill  in 
Judah,  Neh.  iii.  14. 

Beth-ha'merciiak,  "  a  place  that  was  far  off," 
2  Sam.  XV.  17. 

Beth-ha'nan  (Elon-beth-haxan,  Auth.  Vers.)  a 
town  in  Judah  or  Dan,  1  Kings  iv.  9, 

Beth-ha'ran,  Beth-ha'ram,  a  town  in  Gad,  Numb, 
xxxii.  36,     [IV.,  v.] 

Beth-hog'lah,  a  town  of  the  Benjamites,  on  the 
borders  of  Judah,  now  called  Hajlah,  Josh,  xv,  6. 

Beth-ho'ron  {house  of  liberty) ,  a.douh\e  city  between 
Lydda  and  Jerusalem,  a.  the  upper,  a  Leviti- 
cal city  in  Ephr  aim.  Josh.  x\i.  5. )3.the  loAver 

city.  Josh.  X.  10.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Beth-jes'imoth  {house  of  the  deserts),  a  town  of  the 
Reubenites,  on  the  Jordan,  afterwards  belonging 
to  the  Moabites,  Numb,  xxxiii.  49. 

Beth-leb'aoth  {house  of  lionesses),  town  in  Simeon, 
Josh.  xix.  6. 

Beth'lehem  {house  of  bread),  a.  Bethlehem  Judah, 
or  BetMehem  Eplrratah ;  a  village  six  miles 
from  Jerusalem,  Gen.  xxxv.  19.  [IV.,  V.,  VI., 
IX.] /3.  a  town  iii  Zebulon,  Josh,  xix,  15, 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


y3 


Beth-Ma'achah  [house  of  bruising),  the  same  as 
Abel  Beth-Maachah,  in  Naj^htali,  2  Sam.  xx.  14. 

Beth-mae'caboth  (house  of  chariots),  town  in 
Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  5. 

Beth-me'on  (house  of  habitatioii),  same  as  Beth- 
baal-meon,  Josh,  xiii.  17.  Its  ruins  are  called 
Minn. 

Beth-mil'lo.    See  MUlo. 

Beth-nxm'rah  {house  of  li?npid  loater),  town  in  the 
tribe  of  Gad,  Numb,  xxxii.  36;  "waters  of 
Nimrim,"  Isa.  xv.  6.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Beth-pa'let  (house  of  escape),  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv. 
27  ;  (Neh.  xi.  26,  Beth-phelet). 

Beth-paz'zez  (house  of  dispersion),  town  in  Issachar, 
Josh.  xix.  21. 

Beth-pe'or,  or  Ba'al-pe'or,  a  Midianitish  town 
near  the  Jordan,  Deut.  iv.  46.     [VI.] 

Beth'phage  (house  offgs),  a  small  village  between 
Jericho  and  Bethany,  Matt.  xxi.  1. 

Beth'hehob  (house  of  breadth),  town  in  Asher, 
Judg.  xviii.  28. 

Beth-sa'ida  (house  of  fish),  a.  a  to-\vn  in.  Galilee 
on  the  tvestern  side  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  and  not 

far  from  Capernaum,  John  i.  44.     [VI.] i3.  a 

town  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  lake  of  Tiberias, 
in  Lower  Gauloiiitis  ;  rebuilt  not  long  after  the 
birth  of  Christ  by  Philip  the  Tetrarch,  and  called 
Julias,  in  honour  of  Julia,  daughter  of  Augustus, 
Luke  ix.  10.     [VI.] 

Beth-she'an  (house  of  rest),  or  Beth'suan,  a  town 
in  Manasseh,  afterwards  called  Scythopolis,  and 
now  Beisan  by  the  Arabs,  Josh.  xvii.  11,  16. 
[IV.,  v.] 

Beth'shemesh   (house   of  the  sun),   a.     a    city  of 

refuge,  and  Levitical  city  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  10. 

[IV.,  v.] ;3.     a  town  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix. 

22. J.  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  38. 5.  an 

Egyptian  city,  the  same  as  On,  or  HeKopolis,  or 

"  city  of  the  sun,"  in  Egj^Dt,  Jer.  xliii.  13.     [V.] 
Beth-shit'tah    (house  of  the  acacia),    a   town   in 

Issachar,  between  Bethshan  and  Abel-meholah, 

Judg.  vii.  22.     [IV.,  VI.] 
Beth-tap'puah  [house  of  apples),  a  town  in  Judah, 

Josh.  XV.  53.     [V.] 
Be'thul,  or  Bethu'el,  town  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  4. 
Beth'zue,  (house  of  the  rock),  a  to'wai  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Judah,  fortified  by  Rehoboam,  Josh.  xv. 

58.     [IV.,  v.,  VI.] 
Be'tonim  (pistacias),  border  town  in   Gad,  Josh. 

xiii.  26. 
Be'zek  (lightning),  city  of  the  Canaanites,  in  the 

valley  of  the  Jordan,  1  Sam.  xi.  8.     [IV.] 
Be'zer,  city   of  refuge,  in  the   tribe  of  Reuben, 

Deut.  iv.  43.     [IV.] 
Bil'eam,  Levitical  city  in  Manasseh,  1  Chron.  vi.  70. 
Bi'thah,  same  as  Balah,  town  m  Simeon,  1  Chron. 

iv.  29. 
Bith'eon,  district  in  Perea,  2  Sam.  ii.  29. 
Bithyn'ia,  pro\'ince  of  Asia  Minor,  bounded  on 

the  north  by  the  Euxine  Sea  and  the  Propontis, 

Acts  xvi.  7.     [II.,  VII.] 
Bizjoth'jah,  town  in  the  south  of  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  28. 
Bo'oiiiM  (weepings),  a  place,  probably,  near  Shiloh, 

Judg.  ii.  1,  5.     [IV.] 
Bo'han  (a  thumb),  a  boundary-stone  between  Judah 

and  Benjamin,  Josh.  xv.  6. 
Borhasi'ra,  "  the  well  of  Sirah,"  Auth.  Vers.,  2 

Sam.  iii.  26. 
Bo'zEZ,  a  rock  in  the  pass  Michmash,  in  tribe  of 

Benjamin,  1  Sam.  xiv.  4. 


Boz'icATK,  in  Judah,  Josh.xv.  39  ;  (2  Kings  xxii.  1, 

Boscath). 
Boz'rah  (distress),  the  Bostra  of  the  Greeks  and 

Romans,  Ln  Auranitis,  Gen.  xxx\'i.  33  ;  (1  Chron. 

i.  44,  Bosrah).     Some  suppose  it  was  the  same 

as  el-Busaireh,   a  village  and  castle  in  Ai-abia 

Petrsea,  south-cast  of  the  Dead  Sea.     [II.,  III., 

IV.,  v.,  VI.,  VII.] 
Buz,  a  people  and  region  in  Arabia  Deserta,  Jer. 

XXV.  23;   (Job  xxxii.  2,  Buzite). 

Cab'bon,  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  40 ;  probably 
the  same  place  as  Machbenah. 

Ca'bul  (insignificant)   a.   town  in  Asher,  Josh,  xix 

27. j8.  a  region  in  Galilee  containing  twenty 

cities  given  by  Solomon  to  Hiram,  1  Kings  ix. 
13.     [IV.,  v.] 

C^sare'a  Palesti'na,  city  built  on  the  shores  of 
the  Mediterranean  by  Herod  the  Great,  22  B.C.; 
the  Roman  metropolis  of  Palestine,  and  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Procurator,  Acts  ix.  30.     [VII.] 

CvEsare'a  Philip'pi,  a  city  near  the  springs  of  the 
Jordan,  and  originally  called  Banias,  but  en- 
enlarged  by  Philip  the  Tetrarch,  who  called  it 
Ca;sarea  in  honour  of  the  emperor  Tiberias, 
adding  his  own  name  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
other  Cirsarea :  it  lay  about  120  miles  north  of 
Jerusalem,  Matt.  xvi.  13.    [VI.] 

Cain  (possessio7i) ,  town  in  the  hUl  country  of  Ju- 
dah, Josh.  XV.  57. 

Ca'lah,  a  city  of  Assyria,  built  by  Asher  or  Nim- 
rod,  now  called  Hatreh,  Gen.  x.  11. 

Ca'lee,  or  Ca'leb-eph'ratah  (as  the  heart),  town 
or  district  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xxx.  14. 

Cal'neh,  or  Cal'no,  an  Assyrian  city,  probably 
the  same  place  that  was  afterwards  called  Ctesi- 
phon,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Tigris,  oppo- 
site Seleucia,  Gen.  x.  10.     (II.) 

Cal'vary  (place  of  a  skidl).     See  p.  55. 

Ca'mon,  town  in  Gilead,  Judg.  x.  5. 

Ca'na  (the  nest),  a.  a  toMm  in  Galilee,  near  Ca- 
pernaum, John  ii.  1  ;    ("Simon  the  Canaanite," 

more  correctly  Cananite,  Mark  iii.  18.) jS.  or 

Kanah,  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  28.    [IV.,  VI.]- 

y.   or,   Kanah,  a   stream    on  the     confines    of 
Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  Josh.  xvi.  8.  [IV.,  VI.] 

Ca'naan  (^merchant),  the  name  of  western  Palestine 
and  Phoenicia,  previous  to  its  occupation  by  the 
Israelites  ;  Ca'naanites,  Gen.  x.  6.  [I.,  IL, 
III.]     (Hos.  xii.  7,  "a  merchant,"  Auth.  Vers.) 

Can'neh,  probably  the  same  as  Calneh,  Ezek. 
xxvii.  23. 

Caper'naum  (citij  of  comfort),  a  populous  city  on 
the  north-western  shore  of  the  lake  of  Genne- 
sareth.  The  site  of  this  place  is  uncertain. 
Matt.  iv.  13,    [VI.] 

Caph'tor,  probably  Crete,  though  the  ancient 
translators  understand  it  to  mean  Cappadocia, 
Deut.  ii.  23.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 

Caph'torim,  the  Philistines,  who  came  originally 
from  Crete,  Deut.  ii.  23. 

Cappado'cia,  an  eastern  province  of  Asia  Minor, 
bordering  on  Armenia,  Acts  ii.  9.     [II.,  VII.] 

Car'mel  (fruitfid  field,  or  vineyard  of  God),  a.  a 
range  of  hills  extending  north-west  from  the 
plain  of  Esdraelon,  and  ending  in  a  promontory 
forming  the  Bay  of  Acre,  Josh.  xix.  26.  [II., 
III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.]  (Jer.  iv.  26,  "the  fiuit- 

ful  place,"   Auth.    Vers.) )3.    town   in  the 

mountains  of  Judah,   Josh.  xv.  65.     [IV,,  V,, 


84 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


Cxsirii'iA,  a  place  in  the  north-east  of  Media, 
Ezra  viii.  17. 

Cas'luhim,  descendants  of  Mizraim,  who  abode 
near  Colchis,  Gen.  x.  14.     [I.] 

Ce'dron.     See  Kidron. 

Cen'chrea,  one  of  the  ports  of  Corinth,  Acts,  xviii. 
18.     [II.,  VII.] 

Chal'dea,  Chal'dees  {Ckasdim,  Heb.),  the  region 
and  inhabitants  of  Uabylonia ;  but  in  a  wider 
sense  Chaldea  comprehended  Mesopotamia, 
Gen.  xi.  28.     [II.]     See  p.  6. 

Char'ran.    See  Haran.     [II.] 

Cha'rchemish,  a  fortified  city  on  an  island  formed 
near  the  junction  of  the  Chebar  and  the  Eu- 
phrates. It  was  taken  both  by  Pharaoh-Necho 
and  Nebuchadnezzar  ;  was  called  by  the  Greeks, 
Kirkesion ;  by  the  Romans,  Circesium ;  and 
by  the  Arabs,  Kerkesiyeh,  2  Chron.  xxxv.  20. 

[II.,  v.] 

Che'bar  {streiigth),  a  navit^able  river  of  Mesopo- 
tamia, kiiowTi  to  the  Greeks  as  the  Chaboras, 
and  now  called  the  Khabour,  Ezek.  i.  1.     [II.] 

Che'phar-haam'monai  {village  of  the  Amtnonites),  a 
to^vTi  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  24. 

Chephi'rah,  to-\\ni  of  the  Hi-vites,  afterwards  in 
the  territory  of  the  Benjamites,  Josh.  ix.  17. 

Cher'ethite,  or  Cher'ethim,  the  Philistines,  1 
Sam.  XXX.  14. 

Che'uith  [slmjing),  a  brook  on  the  east  of  the 
Jordan,  1  Kings  xvii.  3.     [VI.] 

Ches'alon,  to-vvn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  10. 

Che'sil,  a  town  in  the  south  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  30. 

Chesul'loth,  to-\vn  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  18. 

Che'zib,  in  the  lowlands  of  Judah,  perhaps  the 
same  as  Achsib,  Gen.  xxxviii.  5. 

Chi'don,  the  same  as  Perez-uzza,  1  Chron.  xiii.  9. 

Chil'mad,  a  town  or  region  mentioned  together 
with  Assyria,  Ezek.  xx'S'ii.  23. 

Chin'nereth,  a  lake  or  sea  in  Palestine.  See  p. 
58.  Numb,  xxxiv.  11 ;  (1  Kings  xv.  20,  Cinne- 
roth).     [II.,  III.,  IV.,  v.,  VII.] 

Chi'os,  a  populous  and  fertile  island  in  the  Ionian 
archipelago,  now  Scio,  Acts  xx.  15.     [II., VII.] 

Chis'loth-tabor,  a  fortified  city  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Tabor,  on  the  eastern  boundary  of  Zebu- 
Ion,  Josh.  xix.  12,  22. 

Chit'tim,  or  Kit'tim,  the  island  of  Cyprus,  and  in 
a  wider  sense  the  islands  of  the  Mediterranean, 
Numb.  xxiv.  24.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 

Chora'shan,  1  Sam.  xxx.  30,  probably  the  same  as 
Ashan,  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  42. 

Chora'zin  {the  secret),  a  toMaa  of  Galilee  near  the 
lake  Tiberias  :  no  traces  of  it  now  exist.  Matt. 
xi.  21.     [VI.] 

Chub,  probably  Nubia,  Ezek.  xxx.  5. 

Chun,  a  Phoenician  city,  probably  the  modem 
Beirut,  1  Chron.  xviii.  8. 

CiLi'ciA,  a  proATJice  in  the  south  of  Asia  Minor, 
Acts  vi.  9  ;  xv.  23.     [II.,  VII.] 

Clau'da,  a  small  island  off  the  south-west  coast  of 
Crete,  also  called  Gaudos,  and  now  bears  the 
name  of  Gozzo,  Acts  xxvii.  16.     [II.,  VII.] 

Cni'dus,  or  Gni'dus,  a  town  and  peninsula  of  Do- 
ris, in  the  JEgeKo.  Sea,  Acts  xxvii.  7.      [II.,  VII.] 

CoLOs'sE,  a  citv  of  Phrygia,  on  the  river  Lycus, 
now  Konos,  Col.  i.  2.     [II.,  VII.] 

Co'os,  a  small  island  near  the  coast  of  Caria,  now 
called  Stan-co,  or  Stanchio,  Acts  xxi.    1.    [II., 

Cor'ixth,  a  commercial  city,  the  capital  of  Achaia, 
and  the  residence  of  a  Roman  proconsul,  on  the 


isthmus  of  the  Peloponnesus,  between  the  jEgean 
and  Ionian  Seas,  Acts  x^'iii.  1.     [II.,  VII.] 

Crete,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  fruitful  islands 
in  the  Mediterranean,  now  called  Candia,  and 
by  the  Turks,  Kirid,  Acts  ii.  11.     [II.,  VII.] 

CusH  {black),  or  Ethiopia,  Gen.  x.  6,  embracing 
part  of  Arabia,  together  with  Abyssinia  and  Nubia: 
the  name  was  sometimes  used  to  denote  all  those 
who  lived  south  of  Palestine.     [I.] 

Cu'sHAN,  a  district  in  Arabia,  Hab.  iii.  7. 

Cu'thah,  or  CuTH,  a  district  in  Babylonia,  2  Kings 
xvii.  24.     [II.] 

Cy'prus,  a  large  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  for- 
merly called  Chittim,  now  Kebris  by  the  Turks, 
Acts  iv.  36.     [II.,  VII.] 

Cyre'ne,  a  city  in  Upper  Libya,  once  a  seat  of 
Jewish  learning.  Matt,  xxvii."  32.     [II.,  VII.] 

Dab'basheth  {flowing  with  honey),  town  in  Zebulon, 
Josh.  xix.  11. 

Dab'ereth,  a  Levitical  city  in  Zebulon,  Josh.  xix. 
12  ;  (xxi.  28,  Dabareh),     [IV.] 

Dalmanu'tha,  a  village  near  Magdala,  on  the 
shores  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  Mark  viii.  10. 

Dalma'tia,  a  district  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
Adriatic  Sea,  2  Tim.  iv.  10.     [II.,  Vll.] 

Damas'cus,  a  very  ancient  city,  the  capital  of  Syi'ia, 
situated  in  a  plain  at  the  eastern  foot  of  Anti- 
Libanus,  Gen.  xiv.  15.  [II.,  III.,  IV.,  V.,  VI., 
VII.,  IX.] 

Dam'mim,     See  Ephes-dammim. 

Dan  {hethaf judges),  a.  oneof  the  twelve  tribes.  Josh. 

xix.  48.     [IV.] j8.  a  to-mi  in  the  north  of  the 

Holy  Land,  in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  the  same  as 
Leshem,  or  Laish,  Josh.  xix.  47.     [IV.,V.,  VI.] 

Dan-ja'an,  probably  the  same  as  the  preceding, 
2  Sam.  xxiv.  6. 

Dan'nah,  a  city  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  49. 

Dead  Sea.    See  page  60.     [IX.] 

De'bir,  a  Levitical  town  in  Judah,  thirty  miles 
s.w.  from  Jerusalem ;  also  called  Kirgath-sepher, 
and  Ku-gath-sannah,  Josh.  x.  38.    [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Decap'olis  {te7i  cities),  a  district  in  the  north-east 
of  Palestine,  containing  ten  cities,  Matt.  iv.  25. 

Ded'anim,  a.  a  people  near  the  Arabian  Sea, 
descended  from  a  son  of  Cush  :  they  spread  to- 
wards northern  Arabia,  Gen.  x.  7.     [I.,  II.] 

/3.  a  people  in  Idumca,  descended  from  the 
second  son  of  Jokshan,  Abraham's  son  by 
Keturah,  Gen.  xxv.  3. 

Deha'vites,  a  people  tributary  to  the  Persians, 
residing  on  the  high  lands  near  the  Caspian  Sea, 
Ezra  iv.  9. 

Der'be,  a  small  towaa  of  Lycaonia,  at  the  foot  of 
the  Taiiriaii  mountains.  Acts  xiv.  0.     [II.,  ^ni.] 

Diblatha'im.     See  Abnon-diblathaim. 

Di'bon,  or  Di'bon-Gad,  a.  a  city  built  by  the 
Gadites,  but  belonging  to  Reuben,  Numb.  xxi. 
30.  [IV.,  VI.] p.  a  town  in  Judah  (pro- 
bably the  same  as  that  called  Dimonah  in  Josh, 
xiii.  2G),  Neh.  xi.  25. 

Dii/ean,  toAvn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  38. 

Dim'nah,  a  Levitical  city  in  Zebidon,  Josh.  xxi.  35. 

Dimo'nah.    See  Dibon. 

Di'naites,  an  Assyrian  people,  Ezra  iv.  9. 

Din'habah,  an  Idumean  to^vn,  Gen.  xxxvi.  32. 

Diz'ahab  {a place  ahonnding  with  gold),  in  the  desert 
of  Sinai ;  probably  the  same  as  Dchab,  on  the 
western  shore  of  the  Elanitic  gtdf,  Deut.  i.  1. 

Dod'anim,  or  Rod'anim,  descendants  of  Japheth, 
Gen.  X.  4  ;   1  Cliron.  i.  7. 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


b5 


Doph'kah,  a  station  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Sin,  Numb,  xxxiii.  12.     [HI.] 

Dor,  the  city  of  a  Canaanitish  king,  in  the  heritage 
of  Manasseh.  A  village  exists  on  its  site,  called 
Tortura,  Josh.  xi.  2.     [III.,  IV.,  VI.] 

Do'than  (well),  Do'thaim  {two  wells),  a  place  north 
of  Shechem,  Gen.  xxxviii.  17.     [HI-] 

Du'mah,  o.  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  xxv.  14. /3. 

a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  52.     [I., 

Du'ra,  a  plain  in  Babylonia,  Dan.  iii.  1.     [II.] 

E'bal  {a  heap),   a  moimtain  forming  one  side  of 

the  valley  that  contained  the  town  of  Shechem, 

now  Nabulus,  and  opposite  to  Mount  Gerizim, 

Deut.  xi.  29.     [IV.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Eben-e'zer  {stone  of  help),  a  memorial  stone  erected 

by  Samuel  at  Mizpeh,  1  Sam.  iv.  1. 
E'ber,  a  district  peopled  by  the  descendants  of 

SLem,  Gen.  x.  21.     [I.] 
Ebro'nah,        station  in  the   wilderness.   Numb. 

xxxiii.  34, 
E'dar  [a  flock),  town  in  Judah,  Gen,  xxxv.  21. 
E'den  {pleasure,  or  delight),  a.  the  site  of  Paradise: 
its  locality  is  uncertain,  Gen.  ii.  8. j3.  a  dis- 
trict of  Mesopotamia,  or  Assyi'ia,  2  Kings  xix.  12. 
E'dom  (>-cc?),Idume'a.  The  country  of  the  Edomites 
consisted  of  the  mountainous  tract  between  the 
Dead  Sea  and  the  Elanitic  gulf  of  the  Red  sea, 
afterwards   called   Gebalene,  now  Jebal.    Gen. 
xxxu.  3.      [II.,  m.,  IV.,  v.,  VII.] 
Ed'rei,    o.    the    ancient    metropolis    of    Bashan, 
situated  in  a  deep  valley.     Its  site,  called  Draa, 
is  covered  with   ruins.    Numb.  xxi.  33,      [IV,] 

j3.  a  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh,  xix,  37. 

Eg'laim  {two  pools),  a  village  in  the  land  of  Moab, 

Isa.  XV.  8, 
Eg'lon,  a  Canaanitish  city  in  Judah,  Josh.  x.  3, 

34.     [III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.] 
E'gypt  (Miz'raim,  Heb.),  called  also  "  the  land  of 
Ham"  (Gen.  x.  6).    Seepage  10.  Gen,  xii.lO,  14. 
[I.,  II.,  Ill,,  VII,] 
Ek'ron,  one  of  the  five  principal  cities  of  the  Philis- 
tines,     Its  site  is  supposed  to  be  now  occupied 
by  a  small  Moslem  village  called  Akri,  five  miles 
south  of  Ramleh,  Josh.  xiii.  3.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
E'lah  {an  oak),  the  valley  in  which  the  Israelites 
encamped  when  Da^id  fought  with  Goliath,  1 
Sam.  xvii.  2,  19.     [V.] 
E'lam,  a  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia,  the  ancient 
Susiana,  now  called  Kuzistan  ;  and  the  Elymais 
of  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  E'lamites,  descend- 
ants of  Shem,  See  page  19,  Gen.  x.  22.   [I.,  II.] 
E'lath,    or  E'loth,    called   by   the    Greeks    and 
Romans,  Elana ;  a  city  of  Idumea,  having  a  port 
on  the  eastern  arm  of  the  Red  Sea,  called  from 
it  the  Elanitic  Gulf,  the  modem  GuK  of  Akaba, 
Deut.  ii.  8,     [II„  III.] 
Elea'leh,  now  called  El-al  {the  height),  a  towTi  in 
Reuben,  north-east  of  Heshbon.     The  ruins  are 
called  El-aal,  Numb.  xxii.  37.     [IV.] 
E'leph,  a  towni  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  28. 
E'lim,  an  Israelitish  station,  Exod,  xv,  27  ;   (Isa, 

XV,  8,  Beer  EUm),     [IV,] 
Eli'shah,  a  son  of  Javan,  who  gave  name  to  the 
"Isles  of  Elishah,"  a  region  of  the  Mediterranean 
(some  suppose  the  Pelopomiesus),  whence  purple 
was  brought  to  Tyre,  Gen,  x,  4. 
El'kosh,   the  modern  Alkosh,  in   Assyria,    near 

Mosul,  Nah,  i,  1, 
El'laser,  a  territory  near  Babylonia  and  Elymais  ; 


perhaps  the  same  as  Thelasser,  Gen,  xiv,  1. 
[II.] 
E'lon  {a  grove),  a.  a  town  in  tribe  of  Dan,  Josh. 
xix.  43;  (1  Kings  iv.  9,  Elon-beth-hanan).  0. 
probably  Mealon  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  33, 
("  from  AUon,"  Auth.  Vers.) 
El'tekeh,  a  Levitical  city  in  tribe  of  Dan,   Josh. 

xix.  44. 
El'tekon,  a  town  of  Judah,  .Tosh.  xv.  59. 
El'tolad,  or  To'lad,  in  Judah,  but  belonging  to 

Simeon,  Josh,  xv.  30, 
E'mims,  an  ancient  gigantic  race,  who  originally 

occupied  the  land  of  Moab,  Gen.  xiv.  5.     [III.] 
Em'maus  {warm  baths),  a  vUlage  about  seven  miles 

from  Jerusalem,  Luke  xxiv.  13.  [V.,  VI.] 
E'nam  {tico  fountains) ,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  34. 
En'dor  {fountain  of  generation),  in  Manasseh,  Josh. 

xvii.  11.     [III.,  IV.,  VI.] 
En-egla'iiM   {fountain   of  two   calves),    a   town  of 

Moab,  Ezek.  xlvii.  10. 
En-gan'niji  {garden  fountain),  a  town  in  the  tribe 

of  Judah,  near  Bethel,  Josh.  xv.  34.     [IV.] 
En'gedi  {fountain  of  the  kid) :    the  more  ancient 
name  was  Hazezon-Tamar,  a  town  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Judah,  now  called  Ain-Jidy,  Josh.  xv. 
62.*  [IV.,  VI.] 
'Eh-tiaiVd A.  {fou7itain  of  swiftness),  in  the  tribe  of 

Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  21. 
En-hak'kore,  in  Simeon,  Judg,  xv,  19, 
En-ha'zor  'fountain  of  inclosure) ,  inNaphtali,  Josh, 

xix,  37. 
En-mish'pat  {fovntain  of  judgment),  or  Ka'desh  ; 

probably  the  same  as  Meribah,  Gen.  xiv.  7. 
E'noch  {dedicated),  a  city  built  by  Cain,  and  named 

after  his  son,  Gen.  iv.  17. 
E'non  {the  place  of  springs),  a  small  town  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Jordan,  near  Mount  Gilboa, 
John  iii.  23.     [VI.] 
En-rim'mon  {fountain  of  the  pomegranate),  a  town 

in  Judah,  Neh.  xi.  29. 
En-ro'gel   {the  fuller  s  fountain),  the  fountain  of 
Nehemiah,    on    the    north-east    of   Jerusalem, 
2  Sam.  xvii.  17.     [IV.,  VIII.] 
En'shemesh  {fountain  of  the  sun),  a  tow^l  with  a 
stream  on  the  borders  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
Josh.  XV.  7. 
En-tap'puah  {fountain  of  the  apple),  a  tovm  on  the 
borders  of  Manasseh  and  Ephxaira,  Josh.  xvii.  7. 
E'PHAH,  a  district  belonging  to  a  Midianitish  tribe, 

near  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea,  Gen.  xxv.  4. 
E'phes-dam'mim,  a  place   in  the   tribe  of  Judah, 
1  Sam.  xvii.  1  ;    (called  in  1  Chron.  xi.  13  Pas- 
dammim) . 
Eph'esijs,   the   capital  of  Ionia,   and,  under  the 
Romans,  of  Proconsular  Asia,  Acts  xviii.  21.  24. 
[II.,  VII.] 
E'phraim,  a.  a  tribal,  division  of  Canaan,  Josh,  xvi, 

5 — 10,     [IV.] j3.  a  niormtain,   or  mountain 

range.  Josh.  xvii.  15.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.,  IX.] y. 

a  forest  or  wood  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  2  Sam. 

xviii.   6.  5,  a  city   near  the  wilderness  of 

Judea,    2  Sam.  xiii.   23.      [IV.,  VI.]  — -  e.  a 
name  given  to  the  kingdom  of  Israel,  Isa.  ix.  9. 
Eph'ratah,  Eph'rath  {the fruitful),  or  Beth'lehem 
EpH'RATAir,  the  ancient  name  of  BetUehem  in 
Judah,  Gen.  xxxv.  19.     [V.] 
E'phron,    a.  a  mountain  on  the  border  of  Judah 

and  Benjamin,  Josh.  xv.  9. 18.  a  town  on  the 

borders  of  Benjamin,  2  Chron.  xiii.  19. 
E'rech,  a  city  in  Babylonia ;  probably  the  same 
as  Areca,  Gen.  x.  10.     [I.] 


80 


THE  SCRIPTUEE  GAZETTEER. 


E'sEK  (strife),  one  of  the  -wells  dug  by  Isaac,  Gen. 
xxvi:  20. 

Esh'col  (a  bunch  of  (/rapes),  a  valley  between  He- 
bron and  Jerusalem,  -Nvhich  is  still  distinguished 
for  its  vineyards.  Numb.  xiii.  24.     [III.,  V.] 

E'&HEAN,  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  52. 

Esh'taol,  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  Josh.  xv.  33.    [IV.] 

Esh'temoh,  or  Eshtemo'a,  a  Levitical  town  in 
Judah,  Josh.  xv.  50.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

E'tam,  or  E'tham,  a.  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Chron.  iv. 

32.      [IV.,    v.] j8.    a  rock   near    the    tovm, 

Judg.  XV.  8  ;  Etham  {end  of  the  sea),  a  station  of 
the  Israelites  on  the  edge  of  the  wilderness  [11.], 
Exod.  xiii.  20. 

E'ther,  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  42 ;  xix.  7. 

Ethio'pia  (blackness),  a  name  given  to  several 
countries  in  Africa.     See  Cush,  and  p.  20. 

Euphra'tes  {that  snakes  fruitful),  the  most  con- 
siderable stream  in  Western  Asia,  and  therefore 
fi-equentlv  designated  "the  river,"  or  "  the  great 
river,"  Gen.  ii.  14  ;  xv.  18.     [II.,  V.,  VII.] 

E'zEL  {departure),  a  stone,  1  Sam.  xx.  19. 

E'zEM,  town  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  1  Chron.  iv.  29. 

E'zion-ge'ber,  a  station  of  the  Israelites  on  the 
Red  Sea,  and  afterwai'ds  a  maritime  city  of  some 
importance,  called  by  the  Greeks,  Berenice, 
Numb,  xxxiii.  35.     [II.,  III.] 

Fair-Havexs,  a  small  bay  to  the  north-east  of 
Cape  Matula,  in  the  Island  of.  Crete,  which  re- 
tains the  Greek  name  of  Kalos  Limenas,  Acts 
xxvii.  8.     [II.,  VII.] 

Ga'ash,  a  hill  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  xxiv.  30 ;  (2  Sam. 
xxiii.  30,  "the  brooks  of  Gaash"). 

Ga'ba,  or  Ge'ba,  a  Levitcal  city  in  Benjamin,  near 
Jerusalem,  Josh,  xviii.  24. 

Gab'batha  {elevated),  probably  a  tesselated  pave- 
ment outside  the  prajtorium  of  the  Roman 
governor,  John  xix.  13. 

Gad  (a  band,  a  troop),  a.  a  tribal  division  of  Ca- 
naan, Josh.  xiii.  24 — 28.     [Iv.] ;8.  a  name 

given  to  the  brook  Jabbok,  2  Sam.  xxIa'.  5. 

Gadare'nes,  the  inhabitants  of  Gadara,  the  chief 
city  of  Peryea,  near  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee,  Mark  v.  1.     [VI.] 

Gala'tia,  a  pro\'ince  of  Asia  Minor,  Acts  xvi.  6, 
[II.  VII.] 

Gal'ilee  {district),  the  northernmost  of  the  three 
principal  di%isions  of  Palestine,  Matt.  iv.  16.  See 
p.  39.     [V.,VI.] 

Gal'ilee,  Sea  of.  Lake  of  Gennes'areth,  or  Tibe'- 
RiAS.    Matt.  iv.  18.     Seep.  58.     [II.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Gal'lim,  a  town  of  the  Benjamites,  north  of  Je- 
rusalem, 1  Sam.  XXV.  44. 

Ga'reb  {scratch,  or  scrape),  a  hill  near  Jerusalem, 
Jer.  xxxi.  39.      See  p.  56.     [VIII.] 

Gath  {a  press),  one  of  the  five  royal  cities  of  the 
Philistines,  Josh.  xi.  22.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Gath-he'pher,  or  Git'tah-he'pher,  the  birth- 
place of  the  prophet  Jonah,  in  tribe  of  Zebtdon, 
Josh.  xix.  13.     [IV.] 

Gath-rim'mon  {the  granite  pi-ess),  a.  a  Levitical 
city  in  tribe  of  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  45.     [IV.,  V.] 

j3.  another  city  in  tribe  of  Manasseh,  though 

the  preceding  may  be  the  same,  Josh,  xxi,  25  ; 
the  LXX.  has  "  Jebatha." 

Ga'za  {strouf/),  or  Az'za,  one  of  the  five  cities  of  the 
Philistines,  on  the  southern  border  of  Palestine. 
Here  Samson  pulled  down  the  idol-temple  on 
himself  and  his  enemies.      A  vUlage,  about  ten 


miles  distant,  is  still  called  Samson;  in  Arabic, 
Simsim,  Gen.  x.  19.  [II.,  III.,  IV.,  V.,  VI., 
VII.] 

Ga'zer  or  Ge'zer,  a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites, 
included  in  the  allotment  to  Ephraim  as  a  Le- 
vitical town,  Josh.  xvi.  3.     [V.] 

Geri'zim,  a  mountain  of  Samaria,  opposite  toMoimt 
Ebal,  on  the  western  side  of  the  valley  in  which 
Shechem  is  situate,  Deut.xi.  29.     [IV.,VI.,IX.] 

Ge'ba,  or  Ga'ba,  a  town  near  Shechem,  Josh.  xxi. 
17.     Geba  is  also  used  for  Gibeah,  which  see. 

Ge'bal,  a  city  in  Phoenicia,  called  Byblos  by  the 
Greeks,  Gabale  by  the  Romans,  and  now  known 
by  the  name  of  Jebail.  (The  inhabitants  are 
called  Giblites,  Josh.  xiii.  5,  but  the  word  is 
translated  "  stone-squarers"  in  1  Kings  v.  18.) 
Ezek.  xxvii.  9.     [V.] 

Ge'bim,  a  town  in  Judah,  Isa.  x.  31. 

Ge'der,  an  ancient  town  of  the  Canaanites,  in  the 
plain  country  of  Judah,  probably  the  same  as 
Gedera  and  Beth-Geder,  Josh.  xii.  13. 

Ge'dor,  a  town  in  the  hill  country  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  58. 

Gederotha'im,  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  41. 

Gehen'na,  See  Hinnom.     [VIII.] 

Gexnes'aret  {garden  of  the  prince),  Matt.  xiv.  34. 
.See  page  58. 

Ge'rar,  a  town  of  the  Philistines,  Gen.  x.  19. 
[III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.] 

Gergese'nes,  the  inhabitants  of  one  of  the  cities 
of  Decapolis,  called  Gergesa,  though  some  con- 
sider this  place  to  be  the  same  as  Gadara,  Matt. 
viii.  28.     [VI.] 

Ge'siiur  {the  vale  of  the  ox),  a.  a  district  of  Syria, 
between  Mount  Hermon  and  Bashan,  2  Sam. 
iii.   3  :  the  inhabitants   are    called  Geshurites, 

Dcut.  iii.    14.       [IV.,  VI.] jS.     Geshuri,    a 

people  in  the  south  of  Palestme,  Josh.  xiii.  2, 
[IV.] 

Ge'ther,  a  Syrian  tribe.  Gen.  x.  23. 

Gethsem'ane  {oil-press) ,  a  small  field  or  garden,  just 
out  of  Jerusalem,  at  the  foot  of  the  motint  of 
Olives,  Matt.  xxvi.  36.     [VIII.]     Seep.  56, 

Gez'er,  a  Levitical  town  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  x.  33. 
[IV.] 

Gez'rites,  probably  the  inhabitants  of  the  city 
Gezer,  1  Sam.  xxvii.  8. 

Gi'ah,  a  place  nearGibeon,  2  Sam.  ii.  24. 

Gib'bar,  probably  the  same  as  Gibeon,  Ezra  ii.  20. 

Gib'bethon,  a  Levitical  city  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix. 
44. 

Gib'eah  {a  hill,  and  hence  used  as  the  name  of 
several  towns  situated  on  eminences),  o.  in 
Judah,  Josh.  xv.  57.  [IV.,  V.] ^.  in  Ben- 
jamin, Josh.  x\'iii.  28.      (Neh.  xii.  29,  Ceba.) 

[IV.,  v.] y.  in  Ephraim,  where  Eleazar  the 

son  of  Aaron  was  buried,  Josh.  xxiv.  33.  ("in  a 
lull,"  Auth.  Vers.) 

Gib'eon  {2}ertaitiing  to  a  kill),  a  Levitical  city  in 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  Josh.  ix.  3.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Gi'dom,  a  city  in  Benjamin,  Judg.  xx.  45. 

Gi'hon   {valley  of  grace),  a.  one    of  the   rivers  of 

Paradise,  Gen.  ii.  13. )3.  a  valley  and  pool 

near  the  western  walls  of  Jerusalem,  1  Kings  i. 

33.    [vni.] 

Gil'boa  {the  icallfowitain),  a  motmtain  ridge  to  the 
south  of  the  valley  of  Jezreel,  in  Issachar,  1 
Sam.  xxviii.  4.     [III.,  IV.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Gil'ead,  a.  a  large  district  east  of  the  Jordan, 
Gen.  xxxvii.  25.  [IV.,  V.,  VI.] j3.  a  moun- 
tain rimge  connected  with  Lebanon  by  means  of 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


8' 


Mount  Hermon,  Gen.  xxxi.  21.  [III.] — —y.  a 
city  south  of  the  river  Jabbok ;  also  calledJabesh- 
Gileacl,   Judg.  xxi.  8. 

Gil'gal  [a  heap),  a.  the  place  of  the  first  encamp- 
ment of  the  Israelites,  after  the  passage  of  the 

Jordan,  Josh.  iv.  19.      [IV.] 18.  a  place  near 

Shechem,  Deut.  xi.  30.     [IV.,  MT.'] 

Gi'loh,  a  town  in  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  51. 

Gim'zo  (bulrush),  a  town  in  Judah,  2  Chron.  xxviii. 
18.    [V.] 

Gik'gashites,  one  of  the  Canaanitish  nations  on 
the  west  of  the  Jordan,  probably  a  branch  of  the 
Hivites,  Gen.  x.  16. 

Git'tah,  a  town  in  Samaria,  mentioned  by  Justin 
Martyr,  Eusebius,  and  other  early  -wTiters,  but 
not  in  the  Scriptui-es.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Git'taim  (two  xoine-pr esses),  a  town  of  the  Benja- 
raites,  2  Sam.  iv.  3;  Neh.  xi.  33. 

Git'tites,  a  tribe  of  Philistines,  Josh.  xiii.  3. 

Gi'zoNiTES,  1  Chrou.  xi.  3*. 

(xo'ath,  a  place  near  Jerusalem,  Jer.  xxxi.  39. 

GoH  {cistern),  a  place  where  David  fotight  with 
the  Philistines,  2  Sam.  xxi.  19. 

Go'lan  {a  passage),  a  city  of  refuge  in  Manasseh, 
Deut.  iv.  43.     [IV.] 

Gol'gotha  {a  heap  of  skulls).  Matt,  xxvii.  33,  or 
Calvary.      Keep.  55.     [VIII.] 

Go'mer,  a  northern  people,  descended  from  a  son 
of  Japhet,  Gen.  x.  2.     [I.] 

Gomor'kah  {rebellious  2}eople),  one  of  "  the  cities  of 
the  plain,"  Gen.  x.  19. 

Go'sHEN  {pasture  land),  a.  a  province  of  Egypt, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Nile,  now  called  Shar- 
kieh  :  it  has  been  always  celebrated  for  its  fer- 
tility.   Gen.   xlv.  10.     [II.,   III.] ^.  a  city 

with  a  neighbouring  district  in  the  tribe  of 
Judah,  Josh.  x.  41.     [V.] 

Go'zAN,  a  region  of  Mesopotamia,  subject  to  the 
Assyi-ians,  2  Kings  xvii.  6. 

Giie'cia,  Greece,  a  celebrated  country  in  the  south- 
east of  Europe,  Dan.  viii.  21.     [II.,  VII.] 

Gud'godah,  an  Israelitish  station  in  the  Desert, 
Deut.  X.  7.     [III.] 

GuR  {dwelling),  a  place  in  the  western  portion  of 
Manasseh,  2  Kings  ix.  27. 

Gur-ba'al  {dwelling  of  Baal),  a  town  or  district  in 
Arabia,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  7. 

Ha'bor,  a  river  of  Mesopotamia,  elsewhere  called 

Chebar,  2  Kings  xvii.  7.     [II.] 
Hach'ilah,  a  hill  near  the  desert  of  Ziph,  1  Sam. 

xxiii.  19. 
Ha'dad-rim'mon,  a  town  in  the  plain  near  Megid- 

don,  afterwards  called   Maximianopolis,    Zech. 

xii.    11.      Both  Hadad  and   Rimmon   are   the 

names  of  Syrian  idols.     [IV.,  V.] 
Had'ashah,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  37. 
Ha'did,  in  Benjamin,  Neh.  vii.  37. 
Hado'ram,  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  x.  27.     [I.,  II.] 
Ha'drach,  a  city  and  region  east  of  Damascus, 

Zech. ix. 1. 
Hag'arites,  Hagare'nes,  Hag'geri,  an  Arabian 

pastoral  tribe,  1  Chron.  v.  10.     [I.,  II.] 
Ha'lah,  or  rather  Cha'lach,  a  district  of  Media, 

2  Kings  xvii.  6.     [II.] 
Hal'hul,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  58.     [V.] 
Ha'li,  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  25.     [III]. 
Ham    {heat),    a.  a  poetic  name  for  Egypt. ;3. 

country  inhabited  by  the  Zuzim,  but  its  exact 

geographical  position  unknown,  Gen.  xiv.  5.   [I.] 


IIa'math,  the  name  of  one  of  the  smaller  Syrian 
kingdoms,  and  of  its  capital  (on  theriverOrontes), 
which  was  called  Epiphania  by  the  Greeks, 
Numb.  xiii.  21.  [I.,  II.,  V.]  (1  Chron.  xiii.  5, 
Hemath)  ;  (2  Chron.  viii.  3,  Hamath-zobah). 
[V.] 

Ham'math,  a  fenced  citynear  the  sea  of  Cliinnereth, 
Josh.  xix.  35.     [IV.] 

Ham'mon,  a.  town  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  28. /3. 

town  in  Naphtali,  1  Chron.  vi.  76. 

Haivi'moth-uok,  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xxi.  32. 

IIan'nane'el,  a  tower  in  Jerusalem,  Neh.  iii.  1. 

IIa'nes,  a  city  of  Egypt.  See  Tahpanhes,  Isa. 
XXX.  4. 

Han'nathon,  town  in  Zebulon,  Josh.  xix.  14. 

Haphra'im,  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  19. 

Ha'ra,  a  province  of  Assyria,  1  Clu'on.  v.  20.     [II]. 

IIar'adah,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb,  xxxiii, 
24. 

Ha'ran,  or  Char'ran,  a  city,  on  a  river  of  the  same 
name,  which  falls  into  the  Euphrates,  called  by 
the  Greeks  Charran,  andby  the  llomans  Charrae. 
It  is  situated  in  a  sandy  plain,  30°  40'  N.  lat.,  39'' 
2'  45"  E.  long.,  and  is  now  called  Harran,  Gen. 
xi.  31,  32.     [II.  v.] 

Ha'rarite,  (a  7nountaineer) ,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  11,  33. 

Ha'reth,  a  forest  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xxii.  5. 

IIa'rod,  a  fountain  near  Gilboa,  Judg.  vii.  i . 

Har'osheth  {forest),  a  U)vn\  in  the  north  of  Pales- 
tine, Judg.  "iv.  2.     [IV.  VI.] 

Hashmo'nah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb,  xxxiii. 
29. 

IIau'ran,  a  tract  in  Syria,  south  of  Damascus, 
called  by  the  Romans  Auranitis,  Ezek.  xlvii.  16, 
18.     [II.  v.]      Keep.  41. 

Hav'ilah  a.  a  land  rich  in  gold.  Gen.  ii.  11. 

j8.  a  district  of  Arabia,  so  called  from  a  son  of 
Cush,  Gen.  x.  7.     [I.  II.  V.] 

Ha'voth-ja'ir  {Jair's  village).  Numb,  xxxii.  41. 

Ha'zar-e'nan  {village  of  fountains),  a  town  in  the 
north  of  Canaan,  Numb,  xxxiv.  9. 

Ha'zar-gad'dah,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  27. 

Ha'zau-hat'ticon  {the  middle  village),  town  on  the 
borders  of  Hauran,  Ezek.  xlvii.  16. 

Ha'zar-ma'veth  {the  inclosure  of  death,  so  called 
from  the  unhealthiness  of  the  locality),  a  district 
in  Arabia  Felix,  abounding  in  spices,  Gen.  x. 
26.     [L] 

Ha'zar-shu'al  {fox-village),  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.2S. 

Ha'zar-su'sah,  and  Ha'zar-su'sim  {horse-village), 
in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  5  ;  1  Chron.  iv.  31. 

Haze'rim  (^villages  of  the  Avinis),  in  Judah,  Deut. 
ii.  23. 

Haze'roth  {inclosures),  a  station  of  the  Israelites 
in  Arabia  Petrsea.  The  modern  Arabic  name  is 
Hudherah,  where  there  still  is  a  fountain.  Numb. 
xi.  35.    [III.] 

Haz'ezon-ta'mar  {pruning  of  the  palm),  a  towTi  in 
the  wilderness  of  Judah,  celebrated  for  its  palms, 
afterwards  called  En-gedi  {kid's fountain).  Gen. 
xiv.  7.     [IV.] 

Ha'zor,  a.  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Neh.  xi.  33.   [IV.] 

/8.  in  Naphtali,  fortihed  by  Solomon,  Josh. 

xi.  1.     [IV.,  VI.]  y.  in  Judah,  the  same  as 

Ilezron,  or   Kerioth-hezron,    Josh.    xv.   3,   23. 

■ -S.  a  district  in  Arabia,  Jer.  xlix.  28. 

IIa'zor-hadat'tah,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  25.     (In 

the  Auth.Vors.  the  names  are  given  separately, 

as  of  two  places,  Hazor,  Hadattah.) 

He'bhox  {society,  or  friendship),  a  town  in  Judah, 

twenty   miles    south    of    Jerusalem,    anciently 


S8 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


called  Kii-jath-Arba  {city  of  Ai-ha),  from  Arba, 

father  of  Anak.    It  was  also  called  Mauire,  Gen. 

xiii.  18.     [II.,  III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

ITe'lam,  a  town  near  the  Euphrates,  2  Sam.  x.  17. 

IIel'hah,  in  Ashcr,  Judg.  i.  31.     [IV.] 

Hel'don  Ijatncss),  the  Chalybon  of  the    Greeks 

and  Romans,  and  the  modern  Aleppo,  or,  as  the 

natives    call  it,  Haleb,  situated  in  N.  lat.  3G° 

11'  25",  E.  long.  37"  9',  Ezek.  xxvii.  18.     [II., 

He'lefh,  inNaphtali,  Josh,  xix.  33. 

HELior'oi.is.   SeeBethshemesh,  and  On.  [V.,VII.] 

Hel'kath,  aLevitical  city  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  2*5 ; 
xxi.  31. 

Hel'kath-haz'zurim  [field  of  strong  men),  a  place 
near  Gibeon,  2  Sam.  ii.  16. 

He'na,  probably  the  same  as  Anah,  a  city  in  Me- 
sopotamia, situated  on  the  Euphrates,  2  Kings 
xviii.  34. 

He'pher,  a  royal  city,  the  same  as  Gath-hepher, 
Josh.  xii.  17.     [V.] 

He'kes,  a  mountain  near  Ekron,  Judg.  i.  35.  [IV.] 

Her'mon  [rnountain),  a  mountain,  the  south-eastern 
branch  of  Anti-Libanus,  called  by  the  Sidonians, 
Sirion,  and  Shenir  by  the  Amorites,  Deut.  iii.  8, 
9.  [III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI., IX.]  Another  mountain, 
known  as  Little  Hermon,  is  not  far  from  Tabor. 
[IX.] 

Hesh'bon  {industry),  the  metropolis  of  the  Amo- 
rites, afterwards  a  Levitical  city  in  Gad.  Numb, 
xxi.  26.     [II.,III.,  IV.,  VI.] 

Hesh'mon,  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  27. 

Heth'lon,  a  town  near  Damascus,  Ezek.  xlvii.  15. 

Hez'ron,  the  western  limit  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  3  ; 
the  same  as  Hazor. 

Hid'dekel,  the  river  Tigris,  Gen.  ii.  14. 

HiEEAp'oLis  {holy  city),  a  city  of  Phrygia,  not  far 
from  Colossse  and  Laodicea,  Col.  iv.  13.     [II.] 

Hi'len,  in  Judah,  probably  the  same  as  Holon, 
1  Chron.  vi.  58. 

Hin'nom,  or  Ben-Hin'nom,  an  unknown  person 
whose  name  is  given  to  a  valley  that  bounds 
Jerusalem  on  the  north.  Josh.  xv.  8.     [VIII.] 

Hit'tites,  a  Canaanitish  nation,  descendants  of 
Heth,  Gen.  x.  15.     [III.,  V.] 

Hi'viTES,  a  Canaanitish  nation,  resident  near  Her- 
mon, Gen.  xxxiv.  2.     [III.,  V.] 

Ho'rah,  a  city  west  of  Damascus,  Gen.  xiv.  15. 

Ho'lon,  a.  a  Levitical  city  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  51. 

[V.] )3.  a  place  in  Moab,  probably  the  same  as 

Holon,  Jer.  xlviii.  21. 

HoR  {who  shows,  or  an  elevation),  a.  mountain  in 
Arabia  Petrtea,  now  called  Jebel  Haroun 
(Moirnt  Aaron),  Numb.  xxi.  4,  [II.,  V.,  IX.] 
;8.  another  mountain  in  the  north  of  Pales- 
tine, Numb,  xxxiv.  7,  8.     [III.] 

Ho'reb  {solitude),  the  northern  peak  of  the  moun- 
tain ridge  of  Sinai,  Exod.  iii.  1.     [II.,  III.,  IX.] 

Ho'rem,  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  38. 

Horhagib'gad  {hill  of  felicity),  an  Israelitish  sta- 
tion. Numb,  xxxiii.  32. 

Hor'ites,  the  people  who  inhabited  Mount  Seir 
before  the  Edomites,  Gen.  xiv.  6. 

Hor'mah  {curse),  a  royal  city  in  the  territory  of 
Simeon,  at  first  called  Zephath,  Numb.  xiv.  45. 
[III.,  IV.,  VI.] 

Horoxa'im,  Hor'onites,  aMoabitish  city,  Isa.  xv.  5; 
Neh.  ii.  10. 

Ho'sAH,  towni  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  29. 

Huk'kok,  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  34. 


HuL,  Gen.  x.  23.     [II.] 

Hum'tau,  to^vn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  54. 

Ib'leam,  town  in  Manasseh,  Josh.  xvii.  11.     [IV.] 

Ico'nium,  the  capital  of  Lycaonia,  situated  at  the 
foot  of  Mount  Tatirus,  now  called  Koniyeh,  Acts 
xiii.  51.     [IL,VII.] 

Id'alah,  in  Zebulon,  Josh,  xix,  15. 

Idume'a.     See  Edom,  and  p.  41.     Mark  iii.  8. 

I'lM,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  29. 

I'je-ab'arim,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb.  xxi.  11. 

I'joN,  or  I'jon-A'bil,  a  fortified  city  in  Naphtali, 
1  Kings  XV.  20.     [VI.] 

Illyr'icum,  a  countrj'  north-west  of  Macedonia, 
answering  nearly  to  that  which  is  at  present 
called  Dalmatia,  Rom.  xv.  19.     [II.,  Vll.] 

In'dia,  in  Eastern  Asia,  not  known  to  the  Hebrews 
tdl  the  days  of  Esther,  though  probably  India,  as 
then  understood,  may  have  been  only  the  region 
forming  the  modern  Cabul  and  Beloochistan, 
Esth.  i.l.     [I.] 

Ir'nahash,  in  Judah,  1  Chron.  iv.  12. 

I'ron,  city  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  38. 

Ir'peel,  city  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  27. 

Ish'maelites,  Arabs  descended  from  Ishmael, 
trading  with  Egj'pt,  and  wandering  as  far  as  the 
Persian  GuK  and  Assyria,  Gen.  xxxvii.  25. 
[H.] 

Ish'tob,  a  district  beyond  Jordan,  Judg.  xi.  3. 
[IL,  v.] 

Is'rael  {a  prince  with  God),  the  kingdom  of  the 
ten  tribes,  2  Kings  xiv.  9.     See  p.  36.    [V.] 

Is'sachar,  a  tribal  division  in  Canaan,  Numb. 
xxvi.  25.     [IV.] 

It'aly,  a  country  in  Europe,  having  Rome  as  its 
capital.  Acts  xviii.  2.     [^^I•] 

Ith'nan,  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  23. 

It'tah-ka'zin,  to^vn  in  Zebulon,  Josh.  xix.  13. 

Tture'a,  a  district  in  the  north-east  of  Palestine, 
forming  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour  the  te- 
trarchy  of  Philip.  The  name  is  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  Itur,  or  Jetur,  one  of  Ishmael' s 
sons,  1  Chron.  i.  31.  The  name  is  retained, 
slightly  altered,  in  the  modern  el-Jedur,  Ltdie 
iii.  1.     Seep.  41.     [VI.] 

I'vAH,  the  same  as  Ava,  2  Kings  xviii.  34. 

Ja'azar,  or  Ja'zer,  a  Levitical  city  in  Gad.  Its 
ruins  are  now  called  Sar,  Numb.  xxi.  32.  [IV., 
VI.]  In  Jer.  xlviii.  32,  a  "sea  of  Jazer"  is 
mentioned,  but  the  correctness  of  the  reading  is 
doubtful.  The  LXX.  reads,  "  the  cities  of 
Jazer." 

Jab'bok  {the  boisterous),  the  modem  Zerka ;  a 
stream  which  runs  through  the  country  east  of 
the  Jordan,  and  falls  into  that  river  about  thirty 
miles  below  the  lake  of  Tiberias,  Gen.  xxxii. 
22.     [IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Ja'besh-gil'ead,  a  town  belonging  to  the  half-tribe 
of  Manasseh,  beyond  the  Jordan,  in  the  land  of 
Gilead,  Judg.  xxi.  8,  9.  The  brook  Jabesh  (or  the 
dry)  is  near  the  site  of  the  town.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Ja'bez,  a  to'wn  in  Judah,  1  Chron.  ii.  55. 

Jab'neel   {building  of  God),  a.   a  town  in  Judah, 

Josh.  XV.   11. /3.    to^vn   in  Naphtali,   Josh. 

xix.  33. 

Jab'neh,  a  town  situated  on  the  coast  of  the  Medi- 
terranean, which  was  taken  from  the  PliiUstines 
by  Uzziah.  A  village  now  stands  on  its  site, 
called  Yebna,  2  Chron.  xxat.  6. 

Ja'gur,  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  21. 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


Jacob's  Well,  near  Shechem,  iii  Samai-ia:  a  church 
was  built  over  this  spot  by  the  empress  Helena, 
of  -which  only  the  foundations  remain.  Accord- 
ing to  a  recent  measurement,  its  depth  is  seventy- 
five  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  nine  feet.  It  is 
he^\'n   ou'  of  solid  rock,    John  iv.    6.      [IV., 

^^^•^  .  . 

Ja'haz,  Jaha'za  (^qtuirrel,  dispute),  or  Jah  za,  a  Le- 

vitical  city  in  Reuben,  Numb,  xxi,  23.     [IV.] 

Jano'hah,  town  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  xvi.  6.        ' 

Ja'nxjm,  town  in  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  53. 

Japhi'a,  towninZebulun,  Josh.  xix.  12.     [IV.,  V.] 

Japh'leti,  town  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  x^-i.  3. 

Ja'pho,  Jop'pa  [beauty),  the  Jaifa  of  modern  history, 
a  city  of  the  Philistines,  now  a  seaport  of  Pales- 
tine, forty  miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem,  Josh. 
xLx.  46.    [II.,  in.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  VII.,  IX.] 

Jab'muth,  o.  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  x.  3. /3. 

a  Levitical  city  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xxi.  29.  [IV., 
v.,  VI.] 

Jat'tir,  a  Levitical  city  in  the  mountains  of  Judah, 
Josh.  XV.  48.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Ja'van,  a.  Greece,  primarily  modern  Ionia,  being 
nearest  and  best  kno-v\Ti  to  the  Orientals,  Gen. 
X.  2;  Dan.  viii.  21  (Grecia) ;  Joel  iii.  6  (Grecians). 

;8.    a  city  in  Arabia  Felix,  probably  Javan, 

Ezek.  xx%'ii.  13,  19.     [I.,  VII.] 

Je'arim,  a  mount  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  10. 

Je'bus  [possession),  the  ancient  name  of  Jerusalem, 
the  inhabitants  of  which  were  called  Jebusites, 
Judg.  xLx.  10.     [in.,  v.] 

Jeb'usites,  a  powerful  Canaanitish  nation,  who  built 
Jerusalem  and  called  it  Jebus,  after  the  name 
of  their  progenitor,  Gen.  x.  16.     [III.,  IV.,  V.] 

Jehosh'aphat,  a  valley  between  Jerusalem  and  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  Joel  iii.  2.     [VIII.] 

Je'hud,  to-svn  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  45.     [V.] 

Jekab'zeel,  town  in  Judah,  Neh.  xi.  25. 

Je'rah,  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  x.  26.     [II.] 

Jerahm'eelites,  1  Sam.  xxvii.  10. 

Jer'icho  (called  "the  city  of  palm-trees"),  in  a 
plain  of  the  same  name  not  far  from  the  Jordan,  at 
the  point  where  it  enters  the  Dead  Sea.  An  in- 
considerable village,  called  Rihah,  now  stands  on 
its  site,  six  miles  west  of  the  Jordan,  north  lat. 
31°  57',  and  east  long.  35°  33',  Numb.  xxii.  1. 
[II.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Jer'uel,  a  "wilderness  in  Judah,  2  Chron.  xx.  16. 

Jeru'salem  [possession  of  peace),  a  royal  city  of  the 
Canaanites,  and  from  the  time  of  David  the 
metropolis  of  the  Hebrews.  See  page  48.  Josh. 
X.  1.     [II.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  VII.,  IX.,  X.] 

Jesh'anah,  town  in  Judah,  2  Chron.  xiii,  19. 

Jesh'ua,  town  in  Judah,  Neh.  xi.  26. 

Jeth'lah,  tovm.  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  42. 

Je'tur,  an  Ai'abian  tribe,  Gen.  xxv.  15. 

Jez'reel  [the  seed  of  God),  a.  a  town  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  56  ;  1  Sam.  xxix.  1. 

/3.  a  to-\\'n  in  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  where 

stood  the  palace  of  Ahab  and  his  successors, 
Josh.  xvii.  16.     [IV.,  V.] 

Jiph'tah,  tovm  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  43. 

Jiph'thah-el,  a  valley  in  the  tribes  of  Zebulun  and 
Asher,  Josh.  xix.  14. 

Jo'bab,  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  x.  29.     [I.] 

Jog'behah,  town  in  Gad,  Numb,  xxxii.  35.    [IV.] 

Jok'deam,  town  in  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  56. 

Jok'meam,  a  lievitical  city  in  Ephraim,  1  Chron. 
vi.  68. 


Jok'xeam,  of  Carmel,  or  "at  the  foot  of  Cannel,"  a 
Le^itical  city  in  Zebulun,  Josh.  xii.  22.     [IV. J 

Jok'tan  [small),  an  Arabian  people,  Gen.  x.  25. 

Jok'theel,  a.  the  city  of  Sela  or  Petra,  the  capi- 
tal of  Arabia  Petrsea,    2  Kings  xiv.  7. ;3.  a 

to^vn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  38. 

Jop'pa  [beautiful).     See  Japho. 

Jor'dax  [river  of  judgment),  the  principal  river  of 
Palestine,  rising  atthefoot  of  Anti-Libanus,  and 
flowing  into  the  Dead  Sea.  See  p.  58.  Gen, 
xxxii.  10.     [II.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Jot'bah,  a  city  of  Judah,  2  Kings  xxi.  19. 

Jot'bathah,  anlsraeUtish  station,  Numb,  xxxiii.  33. 

Jv't>xk  [the  praise  of  the  Lord),  01  3  VB^A,  a.  a  tribal 
division  of  Canaan,  Josh.  xv.     See  p.  32.     [IV.] 

^.  the  mountains  of,  Josh.  xv.  48.     [IV., 

v.,  IX.] 7.  the  kingdom  of,    Psa.  cxiv.  2. 

See  p.  36.     [V.] 5.   the  wilderness  of,  Judg. 

i.  16.     [VI.,  IX.]     See  p.  63. 

Judea  [praise),  the  land  of  the  Jews,  Matt.  xix.  1. 
After  the  captivity,  the  name  Judea  was  ap- 
plied to  the  whole  of  Palestine  west  of  the  Jordan 
(Haggai  ii.  2).  Under  the  Romans,  in  the  time 
of  Christ,  Palestine  was  divided  into  Judea, 
Galilee,  and  Samaria;  but  as  a  general  denomi- 
nation, Judea  and  Palestine  were  regarded  as 
synonjTuous.     See  p.  37.     [VI.] 

Jut'tah,  a  Levitical  city  in  the  mountains  of  Judah, 
Josh.  XV.  55.     [V.] 

Kab'zeel,  the  same  as  Jekabzeel,  Josh.  xv.  21. 
Ka'desh  [holy),    or  Ka'desh-Bar'nea  [holiness  of 

corn),  a  town  in  the  desert  to  the  south  of  Pales- 
tine, Gen.  XX.  1 ;  Numb,  xxvii.  14.  [II.,  III.,  V.] 
Kad'jionites,  a  Canaanitish  nation  living  in  the 

north-east  of  Palestme,  Gen.  xv.  19. 
Ka'nah.     See  Cana. 
Kar'kaa,  to-wn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  3. 
Kar'kor,  town  beyond  the  Jordan,  Judg.  viii.  10. 
Kar'tah,  town  in  Zebulun,  Josh.  xxi.  34. 
Kar'tan,  the  same  as  KirjathaLin,  a  Levitical  city 

in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xxi.  32. 
Kat'tath,  town  in  Zebulun,  Josh.  xix.  15. 
Ke'dar  (blackness),  a  district  in  Arabia,  inhabited 

by   wandering   shepherds,    descended  from  the 

second  son  of  Ishmael,  Gen.  xxv.  13  ;  Sol.  Song 

i.  5.     [I.,  II.] 
Ked'emoth,  a  Levitical  city  in  Reuben,  Deut.  ii. 

26.     [IV.] 
Ke'desh,  a.  a  town  in  the  south  of  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  23.     [IV.,  VI.] ;3.  another  to-wn  in  the 

tribe  of  Naphtali,  Josh.  xii.  22. 7.  another 

to-wn  in  Issachar,  1  Chron.  vi.  72. 
Kehel'athah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb,  xxxiii. 

22. 
Kei'lah,    a  city   in   Judah,    about   twenty  miles 

south-west  of  Jerusalem,  Josh.xv.  44.     [IV.,  V.] 
Ke'nath,  a  to-wn  in  Auranitis,  near  Bostra ;  also 

caUed  Nobah,  Numb,  xxxii.  42.     [IV.,  V.] 
Ken'ites,    a  tribe  of  Midianites,  dweUmg  among 

the  Amalekites,  Gen.  xv.  19.     [HI.] 
Ken'izzites,  a  Canaanitish  nation,  whose  locality 

is  -unkno-wn,  Gen.  xv.  19. 
Ke'rioth,  or  Ke'rioth-Hez'ron,  o.  a  to-wn  in  Ju. 

dah.  Josh.  xv.  25.    [IV.] R.  a  city  in  Moab, 

Jer.  xlviii.  24. 
Ke'ziz,  a  valley.  Josh.  x\'iii.  21. 
Kib'roth-hatta'avah  [graves  of  lust),  Niimb.  xi.  34. 
Kib'zaim,  a  Le-vitical  city  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  xxi.  22. 
Kid'ron,  or  Ce'dron  [obscurity),  a  stream  (with  a 

valley  of  the  same  name'  flo-wing  between  Jeru- 


90 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


salem  and  the  Mo\int  of  Olives,  and  emi)tymg 
itself  into  the  Dead  Sea,  2  Sam.  xv.  23;  John 
xviii.  1.     [V.,  VIII.] 

Ki'nah,  a  tov\-n  in  Judah,  Josh,  xv.  22. 

Kir  (a  eiUj),  a  a  region  near  the  Caspian  Sea,  2 
Kings  xvL.  9. ;3.  A  fortified  city  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Moab,  called  also  Kir  of  Moab,  Isa.  xv. 
1 ;  Kir-hareseth,  Isa.  xvi.  7 ;  and  Kir-heres,  Jer. 
xlviii.  31,  36;  a  small  town  on  its  site  is  now 
called  Kerak,  2  Khigs  ii.  35.    [II.,  III.,  IV.,  Y.] 

Kib'jath  {city,  or  town),  the  same  as  Kiijath- 
jearim,  Josh,  xviii.  28. 

Kir'jath-a'im  {the  two  cities),  a.  one  of  the  most 
ancient  towns  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan  (Kiria- 
thaini,  Gen.  xiv.   5).     See  also  Jer.  xlviii.  1,  23. 

)8.  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  the  same 

as  Kartan,  1  Chron.  vi.  76.     {IV.] 

Kir'jath-au'ba  {the  city  of  four),  the  ancientname 
of  Hebron,  but  still  used  in  the  time  of  Nehe- 
miah.  Josh.  xv.  13. 

Kir'jath-a'rim  {city  of  cities),  an  abbreviation  for 
Kirjath-jearim. 

Kir'jath-Ba'al  {city  of  Baal),  the  same  as  Kirjath- 
jearim,  Josh.  XV.  60. 

Kir'jath-hu'zoth  {city  of  streets),  a  town  in  Moab, 
!Numb,  xxii.  39. 

Ki'rjath-je'arim  {city  of  the  forests),  originally  one 
of  the  towns  of  the  Gibeonites,  situated  in  the 
tribe  oi  Judah,  Josh.  ix.  17.     [IV.,  V.] 

Kir'jath-sax'na  {city  of  palms),  otherwise  Kir'- 
jath-se'pher  {city  of  the  book)  ;  also  De'bir, 
Josh.  XV.  15. 

Kish'ion,  or  Ki'shon,  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Issa- 
char.  Josh.  xix.  20. 

Ki'shon,  a  river  which  rises  in  Mount  Tabor,  and 
flows  into  the  Gulf  of  Ptolemais,  Judg.  iv.  7. 
[IV.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Kith'lish,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  40. 

Kit'ron,  a  town  in  Zebulun,  Judg.  i.  30. 

Kit'tim.     [II.]     See  Cliittim. 

La'ban,  in  the  Desert  of  Ai-abia,  Deut.  i.  1. 
La'chish,  a  fortified  towTi  in  the  south  of  Judah, 

between  Adoraim  and  Azekah,   Josh.   xv.    39. 

[IV.,  v.,  VI.] 
Lah'mam,  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  40. 
La'ish  {a  lion),  a  town  in  the  north  of  Palestine, 

caUed  also  Dan  and  Leshem,  Judg.  xviii.  7.  [IV.] 
La'kum,  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  33. 
Laodi'cea,  a  city  on  the  borders  of  Phrygia  and 

Lydia,  about  forty  miles  east  of  Ephesus,  Col. 

iv.  13.     [II.,  VII.]     Seep.  48. 
Lase'a,  a  city  in  Crete,  Acts  xxvii.  8.     [II.,  VII.] 
La'sha,  a  town  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  Callir- 

hoe,  a  place  abounding  with  hot  springs,  on  the 

east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  Gen.  x.  19. 
Lash  a' RON,  a  Canaanitish  city.  Josh.  xii.  18. 
Leb'anox  {tchite  mountain),  a  mountain-range    on 

the  borders  of  SjTia  and  Palestine  ;  the  western 

ridge  is    called  Lebanon,   or  Libanus,   and  the 

eastern  Anti-Libanus.     See  p.   64.     [III.,   IV., 

v.,  VI.,  IX.)     Deut.  xi.  24. 
Leb'aoth,  a  town  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  32. 
Lebo'nah,  Judg.  xxi.  19.     [VI.] 
Le'uabim,  a  people  of  Egyptian  origin,  probably 

Lybians  ;  Gen.  x.  13.     [I.] 
Le'hi    {Jaw-bone),    or   Ra'matu-le'hi  {elevation^  of 

the  jaw-bone),  a  place  in  the  south  of  Palestine, 

Judg.  XV.  9. 
Le'shem,  a  toAvn  called  also  Laish  and  Dan,  Josh. 

xix.  47.     [III.] 


Letc'shim,  an  Arabian  tribe,  Gen.  xxv.  3. 
Leum'mim,  an  Arabian  tribe,  Gen.  xxv.  3. 
Lib'nah,  a.   a  station  in   the  -wilderness.  Numb. 

xxxiii.  20. /3.  a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites, 

afterwards   a  Levitical  to%vn   belonging   to   the 

tribe  of  Judah,  Josh.  x.  29.     [IV.,  V.] 
Lib'ya,  a  country  west  of  Egv-pt,  of  which  Cyrene 

was  its  capital,  Acts  ii.  10.     [II.] 
LoD,  LuD,  or  Lyd'da,  a  town  nine  miles  east  of 

Joppa,  in  Benjamin,  1  Chron.  viii.  12.     [I.,  IV., 

v.,  VI.] 
Lod'ebar,  a  place  near  Jordan,  2  Sam.  ix.  4. 
Lu'bim,  the  Libyans,   always  connected  with  the 

EgVT)tians  and"  Ethiopians,  2  Clu-on.  xii.  3.  [II.] 
Lu'dim,  a.  an  African  nation.  Gen.  x.  13.     [II.] 

18.  the  Lydians,  Gen.  x.  22.     [I.,  II.] 

Lu'hith,  a  height  in  Moab,  Isa.  xv.  5. 

Luz  {separation),  a.  a  town  in  the  country  of  the 

Hittites,  Judg.  i.  26. j3.  the  ancient  name  of 

Bethel,  Gen.  xxviii.  19.     [III.] 
Lyd'da,  (See  Lod,)  Acts  ix.  32. 
Lyd'ia,  a  province  on  the  west  coast  of  Asia  Minor, 

Ezek.  XXX.  5.     [VII.] 
Lyd'ians,  or  Lu'dim,  Ezek.  xxx.  5.     [IL] 
Lycao'nia,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  subject  to  the 

Romans  when  visited  by  Paul,  Acts  xiv.  6.     [II. , 

VII.] 
Lyc'ia,  a  province  in  the  south-west  of  Asia  Minor, 

Acts  xxvii.  5.     [II.,  VII.] 
Lys'tra,  one  of  the  chief  towns  of  Lycaonia,  Acts 

xiv.  6,  8.     [II.,  VII.] 

Ma'achah,  Maach'athi,  a  city  and  region  at  the 
foot  of  Mount  Hermon,  Deiit.  iii.  14.      [IV.,  V.] 

Ma'arath,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  59.* 

Macedo'nia  {eminent),  a  large  province  of  ancient 
Greece,  north-west  of  the  ^gean  Sea,  Acts  xvi. 
9  ;  in  the  time  of  the  apostles  under  Roman 
government.     [II. ,  VII.] 

J»Iach'bexah,  a  to\«i  in  Judah,  1  Chron.  ii.  49  ; 
probably  the  same  as  Cabbon,  Josh.  xv.  40. 

Machpe'lah,  a  cave  near  Hebron,  the  burial-place 
of  Scirah,  Gen.  xxiii.  17. 

Madi'a.     See  Media.    [I.,  II.] 

Madman'nah,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  31. 

Mad'mex,  a  towTi  on  the  borders  of  ^Nloab,  Jer. 
xlviii.  2. 

Madme'nah,  a  town  near  Jerusalem,  Isa.  x.  31. 

Ma'don,  a  Canaanitish  city,  Josh.  xi.  1 . 

Mag'bish,  doubtful  whether  the  name  of  a  place  or 
of  a  man,  Ezra  Li.  30. 

Mag'dala  {tower),  :Matt.  xv.  39  ;  the  probable  birth- 
place of  Mary  Magdalene,  that  is,  Mary  of  Mag- 
dala,  situated  on  the  lake  of  Gennesareth,  and 
on  the  western  shore.  It  was  the  Migdal-el  of 
Josh.  xix.  38.  [VI.]  The  Moslem  village,  el 
Mej'del,  probably  occupies  its  site. 

Ma'gog,  the  name  of  a  son  of  Japheth,  and  of  a  great 
northern  nation  aescended  from  him ;  probably 
the  same  whom  the  Greeks  call  Scythians,  Gen. 
X.  2.     [I.] 

Mahana'im  {the  camps),  a  place  beyond  Jordan, 
afterwards  the  site  of  a  Levitical  town  belonging 
to  Gad,  Gen.  xxxii.  2;  Josh.  xiii.  26.  [IV., 
v.,  VI.] 

Ma'haxeh  {encampment),  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
Judg.  xviii.  12. 

Mahan'ehdax,  Judg.  xviii.  12. 
Ma'kaz,  a  town,  probably  in  Dan,  1  Kings  iv.  9. 
Mak'heloth,  a  station  in  the  wilderness,  Numb. 
xxxiii.  25. 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


91 


Makkf.'dah,  a  town  in  Jndah,  Josh.  x.  10. 

^Iaji're  [rebellions),  an  oak-grove  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Hebron,  Gen.  xiii.  18.     [V.] 

Mana'hath,  a  to-^^ni  in  Benjamin,  1  Chron.  viii.  6. 

^Ianas'seu,  one  of  the  tribal  divisions,  Josh.  xvii. 
7.     See  p.  32.     [IV.] 

Ma'on  (habitation) ,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Judah, 
]ieai'  to  a  -wilderness  of  the  same  name.  Josh.  xv. 
55.     [III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.] 

Ma'oxites,  or  Mehu'xims,  an  Arabian  tribe,  Judg. 
X.  12. 

Ma'rah  (bitter),  a  "well  of  bitter  water,  Exod.  xv. 
23.     [III.] 

Mar'alah,  a  town  in  Zebulun,  Josh.  xix.  11. 

Mare'shah,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  44.    [IV., 

Ma'roth,  a  towm  in  Judah,  Micah  i.  12. 

Mash,  a  people  on  the  borders  of  Mesopotamia, 
Gen.  X.  23.     [I.,  II.] 

Ma'shal,  a  town  in  Asher,  1  Chron.  vi.  74. 

Mas'rekah,  a  town  or  district  in  Edom,  Gen. 
xxxvi.  36. 

Mas'sah  (temptation),  an  Israelitish  station  in  the 
desert,  Exod.  xvii.  7. 

Mat'tanah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb.  xxi.  18. 

Mea'lon.     See  Elon. 

Mea'rah,  the  name  of  a  town,  or  simply  a  cave 
near  tSidon,  Josh.  xiii.  4. 

Me'deba,  a  town  in  Reuben,  Numb.  xxi.  30  ;  [IV.] 

Meko'xah,  ill  Judah,  Neh.  xi.  28. 

Me'dia  (Madia,  Heb.),  a  country  near  the  Caspian 
Sea.     See  p.  18,  2  Kings  xvii.  6.     [I.,  II.] 

Megid'do  (host),  in  the  tribe  of  Issachai",  at  the 
foot  of  Mount  Carmel,  called  by  the  Romans, 
Legio ;  by  the  Greeks,  Mageddon,  and  hence 
the  name  Armageddon,  or  "  mountain  of  j\Ie- 
giddo,"  as  applied  to  Carmel,  Josh.  xii.  21.  [IV.] 

Meho'lah.     See  Abel-Meholah,  1  Sam.  x-\iii.  19. 

Mejar'kon,  a  to^^^l  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  46. 

Meli'ta,  the  island  of  Malta,  Acts  xxviii.  1.  [IJ., 
VII.] 

Mem'phis  (Moph  and  Noph,  Heb.),  the  ancient 
capital  of  Lower  Egypt,  Hos.  ix.  6.  [II.,  III.] 
Some  remains  of  it  are  still  found  on  the  western 
bank  of  the  Nile,  to  the  south  of  old  Caii'o  :  in.  its 
neighbourhood  are  the  pyramids,  those  mighty 
monuments  of  ancient  Egypt. 

Meph'aath,  a  Levitical  city  in  Reuben,  Josh.  xiii.  18. 

Merath.a'im,  probably  Babylonia  is  meant,  Jer.l.  21. 

Mer'ibah  (strife),  a.  a  fountain  which  gushed  forth 
from  a  rock  in  Horeb,  when  struck,  at  the  Divine 

command,  by  the  rod  of  Moses,  Exod.  xvii.  7. 

;3.  another  fountain,  produced  in  the  same  super- 
natural manner,  in  the  desert  of  Zin,nearKadesh, 
Numb.  XX.  13,  24. 

Me'rom,  the  lake  Samochonitis,  now  called  Huleh, 
the  highest  lake  of  the  Jordan,  Josh.  xi.  5.  [IV., 
v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Me'roz,  a  place  in  the  north  of  Palestine ;  the  exact 
site  is  unknown,  Judg.  v.  23. 

Me'sha,  in  Ai'abia,  supposed  to  be  the  modern 
Mecca,  Gen.  x.  30. 

Me'shech  (shtit  xip,  surrounded),  a  people  inhabit- 
ing the  Moschean  mountains,  between  the  Black 
and  the  Caspian  Seas,  Gen.  x.  2. 

Mesopota'mia  (the  land  between  the  ttco  rivers).  Gen. 
xxiv.  10.     See  Ai-am  Naharaim,  pp.  5,  14.     [I., 

II.,  vn.] 

Mes'obaite,  1  Chron.  xi.  47. 

Me'theg-am'mah,  probably  a  town  of  the  Philis- 
tines, 2  Sam.  viii.  1. 


Mich'mash  (gathering),^  town  of  Benjamin,  situated 

in  a  narrow  pass,  1  Sam.  xiii.  2.     [IV.,  V.] 
Mich'methah,  a  town  m  Epliraim,  Josh.  xvi.  6. 
!Mid'din,  a  place  in  the  wilderness  of  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  61. 
Mid'ian,  Mid'ianites,  an  Arabian  nation,  descended 

from  Abraham,  whose  tenitory  extended  fi-om 

the  eastern  shore  of  the  Elanitic  Gulf,  as  far  as 

the  land  of  Moab,  and  even  to  Sinai,  Gen.  xxv. 

2.     [I.,  II.,  IV.] 
Mig'dal-E'dar  (tower  of  the  flock,  ox  tower  of  Edar), 

a  village  near  Betlilehem,  Gen.  xxxv.  21,  used 

for   Bethlehem  itself,   and  figuratively  for   the 

royal  stock  of  David,  Micah  iv.  8. 
Mig'dal-El    {tower   of  God),    a  fortified   city  in 

Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  38  ;  the  same  as  Magdala, 

Matt.  XV.  39.     [IV.] 
Mig'dal-Gad  (tower  of  Gad),  a  town  in  the  tribe  of 

Judah,  Josh.  xv.  37. 
Mig'dol  (the  totcer),  probably  the  last  towai  on  the 

Egj'ptian  frontier,  in  the  dii-ection  of  the  Red 

Sea,  Exod.  xiv. 2 ;  Ezek. xxx.  6 ;  ("from  the  tower 

of  Syene,"  Auth.  Vers.,  but  probably  it  should  be 

translated  "  from  Migdol  to  Syene").     [Ill] 
Mig'ron,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  1  Sam.  xiv.  2. 
Mile'tus,    a   city   and   seaport   of  Ionia  in  Asia 

Minor,  thii'ty-six  miles  south  of  Ephesus,  Acts 

XX.  14.     [II.,  VII.) 
Mil'lo  (a  wall),  a.  pait  of  the  citadel  of  Jerusalem, 

2  Sam.  V.  9.     [VIII.] 0.  a  castle  of  the  She- 

chemites,  Judg.  ix.  6. 
Min'ni,  probably  a  pro\'ince  of  Ai-menia,  Jer.  li. 

27.     [II.] 
MiN'NiTH,.a  town  on  the  borders  of  the  Ammonites, 

Judg.  xi.  33,  whence  wheat  was  brought  to  the 

Tyrian  market,  Ezek.  xxvii.  17. 
!Mis'gab,  probably  a  to-s\m  in  Moab,  Jer.  xlviii.  1. 
Mi'sheal,  Mi'shal,  or  Ma'shal,  a  Levitical  city  in 

Asher,  Josh.  xLx.  26.     [IV.] 
Mis'rephoth-ma'im   {the  flow  of  loaters),  a  town  or 

region  near  Sidon,  Josh.  xi.  8. 
Mith'cah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb,  xxxiii.  28. 
Mith'nite,  name  of  an  unknown  tribe  ;  occiu-s  only 

in  1  Chron.  xi.  43. 
Mityle'ne,  the  capital  of  Lesbos,  an  island  in  the 

.?Egean  Sea,  Acts  xx.  15.     [II.,  VII.] 
Mi'zAR,  a  mountain  on  the  eastern  ridge  of  Lebanon, 

Psa.  xiii.  6. 
Miz'pEH  or  Miz'pah  (^oatch-totcer),  a.  a  town  of  the 

Benjamites,  Josh,  xviii.  26.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.]. 

^.  a  to-ivn  in  Gilead,  Judg.  x.  17.     [IV.,  VI.] 

y.  a  town  in  the  plain  country  of  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  38. 5.   another  in  Gad,  the  same  as  Ra- 

moth  Mizpeh,  or  Ramoth  Gilead,  Judg.  xi.  29. 

e.  a  town  in  Moab,  1  Sam.  xxii.  3. ^.  a 

valley  in  Lebanon,  Josh.  xi.  3,  8. 
Miz'raim.     See  Egypt.     [I.,  II.] 
Mo'ab,  Mo'abites,  a  country  and  people  on  the 

east  side  of  the  Jordan,  Gen.  xix.  37.     [II.,  III., 

IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 
Mol'adah,  a  town  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xv.  26.     [IV.] 
Moph.     See  Mempliis. 
Mo'eeh,  a.  an  oak-grove  ("plain,"  Auth. Vers.)  near 

Shechem,  Gen.  xii.  6. —3    a  hUl  near  Jezreel, 

Judg.  vii.  1. 
Mor'esheth-gath,  a  to\\ii  in  Judah,  Micah  i.  14. 
Mori'ah  (vision),  one  of  the  hills  at  Jerusalem,  on 

which  the  temple  Avas  built.  Gen.  xxii.  2.  [VIIL] 
Mose'roth,  Mose'ra,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb. 

xxxiii  30.     [IIL] 
Mo'zah,  town  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  2(L 


9'i 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


Mtt'ra,  a  city  of  Lycia,  Acts  xx-vii.  5.     [II.,  VII.] 
Mys'ia,  the  north-western  province  of  Asia  Minor, 

separated  from  Europe  by   the    Propontis   and 

Hellespont,  Acts  xvi.  7.     [II.,  VII.] 

Na'am.\h,  a  toAvn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  41 ;  (Job  ii. 
11,  Naamathite.) 

Na'aiian,  a  town  in  Ephraim,  the  same  as  Naarath, 
1  Clmrn.  vii.  28. 

Na'arath,  a  town  in  Ephraim,  Josh.  xvi.  7. 

Naha'liel,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb.  xxi.  19. 

Nahal'lal,  or  Na'halol,  a  Levitical  city  in  Zebu- 
lun,  Josh.  xix.  15.     [IV.] 

Na'hok,  a  city  in  Mesopotamia,  Gen.  xxiv.  10. 

Na'in  [pleasantness),  a  to\Mi  in  Palestine,  three 
miles  from  Mount  Tabor  ;  a  hamlet  on  its  site  is 
now  called  Nein,  Luke  vii.  11.     [VI.] 

Na'ioth,  a  place  near  Kamah,  1  Sam.  xix.  18. 

Naph'ish,  an  Ishmaelitish  tribe.  Gen.  xxv.  15. 

Naph'talt,  o.  one  of  the  tribal  di'vdsions  of  Canaan, 
Josh.  xix.  32.  See  p.  34.  [IV.] /3.  a  moun- 
tain in  Galilee,  Josh.  xx.  7. 

Naphtu'him,  an  Egyptian  people.  Gen.  x.  13. 

Naz'aueth  {separated,  sanctified),  a  town  in  Galilee, 
six  miles  west-north-west  from  Mount  Tabor,  on 
the  western  side  of  a  valley.  It  is  now  a  small 
but  well-built  place,  contaming  about  3000  inha- 
bitants, of  whom  two-thii-ds  are  Christians,  Matt, 
ii.  23.     [VI.,  IX.] 

Ne'ah,  a  town  in  Zebulun,  Josh.  xix.  13. 

Neap'olis  [neio  city),  a  maritime  city  in  Macedonia, 
near  the  borders  of  Thrace,  now  called  Napoli, 
Acts  xvi.  11.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 

Neba'ioth  (^prophecies,  or  fruits),  the  name  of  Ish- 
mael's  first-born,  and  of  his  posterity,  who  formed 
one  of  the  Arabian  tribes,  Isa.  Ix.  7  ;  (Nebajoth, 
Gen.  xxv.  13).     [I.,  II.,  V.] 

Nekal'lat,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Neh.  xi.  34.  [V.] 

Ne'bo  {that  fructifies),  a.  a  mountain  on  the  con- 
fines of  Moab,  Numb,    xxxiii.    47.     [IV.] 

y3.   a  town  m  the  vicinity.  Numb,  xxxii.  3. 

y.  a  town  in  Judah,  Ezra  ii.  29. 

Ne'iel,  a  towTi  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  27. 

Ne'keb,  a  towm  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  33. 

Neph'toah,  a  fountain  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  near 
the  valley  of  Jerusalem,  called  Ben-Hinnom,  Josh. 
XV.  9. 

Neto'phah,  a  town  in  Judah,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  28. 

Ne'zib,  a  towm  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  43.     [V.] 

Nib'siian,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  62. 

Nicop'olis  {city  of  victory),  a  city  m  Epii'us,  now 
called  Nicopi,  Titus  iii.  12.     [II.,  VII.] 

Nile,  the  chief  river  of  Egypt,  called  in  Scripture, 
by  way  of  eminence,  '  the  river,'  Gen.  xli.    [II.] 

Nim'rah,  Nim'rim  {leopard),  a  town  in  Gad,  Nvmib. 
xxxii.  3. 

Nin'eveh,  the  capital  of  the  Assjrian  empire,  on 
the  Tigris,  Gen.  x.  11.     [I.,  n.] 

No,  No- AM'MON(<Ae«ea<o/",-l/rtTOOM), Thebes,  the  capi- 
tal of  Thebais,  in  Upper  Egv-pt,  Jer.  xlvi.  25.  [II.  ] 

Nob,  a  Levitical  city  in  Benjamui,  1  Sam.  xxi.  1. 

No'bah,  a  town  in  Manasseh,  Judg.  viii.  11. 

Nod  (^flight),  the  country  to  which  Cain  fled,  after 
the  murder  of  Abel,  Gen.  iv.  16. 

No'dab,  an  Ishmaelitish  tribe,  1  Chron.  v.  19. 

NoPH.     See  Memphis.     [II.,  III.] 

No'pHAH,  a  place  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  Numb. 
xxi.  30. 

O'lUi.,  an  Arabian  tribe,  Gen.  x.  28  ;  (1  Cliron.  i. 
22   Ebal). 


O  BOTH,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb.  xxi.  10. 

Ol'ivet,  or  Mount  of  Olives,  a  mountain  lying  on 
the  east  of  Jerusalem,  from  which  it  is  separated 
by  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat ;  it  is  now  called  by 
the  Arabs,  Jebel-et-Tur,  2  Sam.  xv.  30  ;  Matt, 
xxi.  1.     [IV.,  v.,  VIII.,  IX.] 

On  {the  sun),  or  Heliopolis  {the  city  of  the  sun), 
the  chief  seat  of  the  worshippers  of  the  sun  in 
Egypt,  called  by  the  Hebrews  Bcthshemesh ;  it 
lies  on  the  Nile,  Gen.  xli.  45  ;  (Ezek.  xxx.  17, 
Aven).     [I.] 

O'no,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  1  Chron.  viii.  12. 

O'PHEL  {toice?-),  a  place  or  quarter  of  Jerusalem, 
near  the  walls  on  the  east  side,  2  Chron.  xxvii. 
3.     [VIII.] 

O'pHiR,  a  seaport  in  southern  Arabia;  its  exact 
situation  unkno-wn,  Gen.  x.  29.     [I.,  II.] 

Oph'ni,  a  towm  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  24. 

Oph'rah,  o.  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  23  ; 
(Micah  i.  10,  Aphrah). 0.  a  to^vn  in  Manas- 
seh, Judg.  vi.  11.     [IV.,  v.,  VI.] 

O'reb,  a  rock  near  the  Jordan,  Judg.  vii.  25. 

Pa'dan-A'kam  {plain  of  Aram  or  Mesopotamia), 
Gen.  xxxi.  18  ;  xlviii.  7,  "Padan  ;"  Hos.  xii.  12, 
"  country  (or  field)  of  Aram."  ("  SjTria,"  Auth. 
Vers.)     [II.] 

Pal'estine.     See  Philistines  ;  and  p.  37. 

Pamphyl'ia  {all  tribes),  a  province  of  Asia  Minor, 
nearly  opposite  to  the  island  of  Cyprus  ;  the  sea 
between  is  called  the  Sea  of  Pamphylia,  Acts  ii. 
10.     [II.,  VII.] 

Pa'phos,  a  city  on  the  western  side  of  Cyprus,  and 
the  residence  of  the  Roman  governor,  Acts  xiii. 
6.     [II.,  VII.] 

Pa'rah,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  23. 

Pa'ran,  the  desert  region  extending  from  the  bor- 
ders of  Judah  to  the  confines  of  Smai,  Gen.  xiv. 
6,  ("El-Paran,"  Auth.  Vers.);  xxi.  21.  [IH., 
.v.,  IX.] 

Pa'ras.     See  Persia. 

Par'thians,  the  inhabitants  of  Parthia.  See  p.  18. 
Acts  ii.  9.     [II.] 

Parva'im,  a  gold  region,  supposed  by  Bochart  to 
be  the  same  as  Ophir,  2  Chron.  iii.  6. 

Pas-dam' JiiM,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Chron.  xi.  13  ; 
otherwise  called  Ephes-dammim. 

Pat'ara,  a  port  of  Lycia,  in  Asia  Minor,  Acts  xxi. 

1.   [iL,vn.] 

Path'ros,  a  name  given  to  Upper  Egypt,  Isa.  xi.  11  ; 
the  inhabitants  are  called  Pathrusun,  Gen.  x.  14. 

[I..  II.] 

Pat'mos,  an  island  in  the  ^gean  Sea,  one  of  the 
Sporades,  Rev.  i.  9.     [IL,  VII.] 

Pau,  a  city  in  Edom,  Gen.  xxxvi.  39  ;  (1  Chron.  i. 
50,  "Pai"). 

Pe'kod,  probably  a  part  of  Babylonia,  Jer.  1.  21. 

Pel'onite,  1  Cliron.  xL  27,  36. 

Pen'iel,  or  Penu'el  {vision  of  God),  a  place  beyond 
Jordan,  in  Gad,  Gen.  xxxii.  30,  31  ;  also  called 
Fennel.     [III.] 

Pe'or,  a  mountam  in  Moab,  Numb,  xxiii.  28. 

Per'azim,  a  hill  in  Judah,  Isa.  xxviii.  21. 

Pe'rez-Uz'zah  {the  division  of  Vzzah),  2  Sam.  vi.  8. 

Per'ga,  a  citv  of  Pamphvlia,  on  the  river  Cestrus, 
Acts  xiii.  13.     [IL,  VIL] 

Per'gamos,  a  towni  of  Great  Mysia,  now  called  Ber- 
gamo, Rev.  i.  11.     [n.,  Vn.]     See  p.  47. 

Per'izzites,  {villagers),  a  Canaanitish  nation,  dwell- 
ing on  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Gen.  xiii.  7. 
[III.] 


THE  SCRIPTUEE  GAZETTEER. 


93 


Per'sia   ("Paras,"  Eeb.),    a  country  in  Asia.     2 

Cliron.  xxxvi.  20.     See  p.  19.     [I.,  II.] 
Pe'thor,  a  town  near  the  Euphrates.  Numb.  xxii.  5. 
Phar'pau,   a  river  of  Damascus,  2  Kings  v.  12. 

[IV.,  VI.] 
Pheni'ce,  Phcenic'ia,  a  nan-ow  tract  of  country  on 
the  Mediterranean   coast  between   Galilee   and 
SjTia,  Acts  xi.  19.     [II.,  VI.,  VII.] 
Phexi'ce,  a  seaport  on  the  western  side  of  Crete, 

Acts  xxvii.  12.     [II.,  VII.] 
Philadel'phia  [hve  of  a  brother),  a  city  of  Lydia, 
the  site  of  one  of  the  seven  Apocalyptic  churches. 
Rev.  i.  11.     [II.,  VU.] 
Philif'pi,  a  city  of  proconsular  Macedonia,  ■within 
the  limits  of  ancient  Thrace,  called  a  "  colony," 
Acts  x\i.  12,  because  many  of  Antony's  followers 
Avere  colonized  there  by  Augustus.    Acts  xx.  6  ; 
Phil.  i.  1.     [II.,  VII.] 
Phil'istines   [those  that  dicelt  in  villuges),  a  tribe 
which  gave  its  name  to  the  country  known  as 
Palestine,    Gen.   x.  14.     Hee  p.  30.     [II.,  Ill, 
IV.,  v.] 
Phrtg'ia    {barren),   an  inland  province   of   Asia 

Minor,  Acts  ii.  10.     [II.,  VII.] 
Phut  {the  bow),  an  Afi'ican  nation,  Gen.  x.  6  ;  Jer. 
xlvi.  9,  ("  Libyans,"  Auth.  Vers.),  Ezek.  xxxviii. 
5;     ("Libya,"    Auth.  Vers.),    Nahum    iii.    9; 
("  Put,"  Auth.  Vers.)     [I.] 
Pib'eseth,  or  Pubas'tum,  the  same  as  Bubastis,  a 

city  of  Egypt,  Ezek.  xxx.  17. 
Pi-hahi'roth  {the  pass  of  Hiroth),  a  town  near  the 

Gulf  of  Suez,  Exod.  xiv.  2,  9.     [II.,  III.] 
Pir'athox,  a  town  in  Ephraim,  Judg.  xii.  15. 
Pis'gah  {the  eminence),  a  mountain  ridge  in  Moab, 
Numb.  xxi.  20  ;  Deut.  iii.  17  ;  ("  Ashdoth-Pis- 
gah,"   that  is.  Springs  of  Pisgah,  Auth.  Vers.) 
[IV.,  VI.] 
Pisid'ia,  a  district  of  Asia  Minor,  lying  mostly  on 

Mount  Taurus,  Acts  xiii.  14.     [II.,  VII.] 
Pi'soN,  one  of  the  rivers  of  Pai-adise,  Gen.  ii.  11. 
Pi'thom  {the  fortress),    a  treasure   city   of  Lower 

Egj-pt,  on  the  Nile,  Exod.  i.  11. 
Pon'tus,  the  north-eastern  province  of  Asia  Minor, 
which  took  its  name  from  the  Pontus  Euxinus, 
(Euxine  Sea);  Acts  xviii.  2.     [II.  VII.] 
Ptolema'is,  Acts  xxi.  7.     See  Accho. 
PuL,  probably  an  Alrican  tribe,  Isa.  lx\4,  19. 
Pu'xoN,  a  station  of  the  Israelites,  near  the  moun- 
tains of  Edom.     Numb,  xxxiii.  42.     [III.] 
Put.     See  Phut. 

Pute'oli  [little  wells),  a  maritime  town  of  Campania 
in  Italy ;  its  modern  name  is  Puzzuoli,  Acts 
xxviii.  13.     [II.  VII.] 

Ra'amah,  a  city  of  the  Cushites,  Gen.  x.  7.     [I., 

II.] 
Rab'bah   [contentious),  a.   a  to^wn  in  Judah,  Josh. 

XV.  60. )3.  a  town  iii  Moab.     See  Ar. y. 

the  same   as   Rabbath- Amnion,    Deut.    iii.    11. 

[II.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.] 
Rab'bith,  a  town  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  20, 
Ra'chal,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xxx.  29. 
Ra'hab  [a  public  place),  a  poetical  name  for  Egj^t, 

Psa.  IxxxA-ii.  4.     [IL,  III.] 
Rak'kath,  a  tOAvn  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  3o. 
Rak'kon,  a  town  in  Dan,  Josh.  xix.  46. 
Ra'mah  [elevated),  a.  a  toi\'n  of  the  Benjamites,  in 

the  vicinity  of   Gibeah,    afterwards    knowar    as 

Ramleh,  Josh,  xviii.  25.    [IV.,  V,] 0.  ato■v\^l 

in  Naphtali  or  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  29,   36. y. 

a  town  in  GUead.     See  Raraoth-Gilead. 


Ramatha'im-zo'phim,  a  place  in  Mount  Epljaim, 

1  Sam.  i.  1.     [V.] 
Rame'ses,  or  Raam'ses,  the  name  of  a  provmce 
and  of  a  citv  in  the  land  of  Goshen,  Gen.  xlvii. 
11.     [II.,  IIL] 
Ra'moth  [high  place),  a  Levitical  toAvn  in  the  tribe 
of  Issachai-,  1  Cliron.  vi.  73.     [II.] 

Ra'moth-Gil'ead,  the  same  as  Mizpeh,  a  citv  of 
refuge  in  Gad,  Deut.  iv.  43.     [III.,  IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Ra'moth-Ne'gek  [Ramoth  of  the  south).  Josh.  xix.  8. 

Re'chabites,  a  tribe  or  family  of  the  Kenites, 
1  Chron.  ii.  55. 

Re'chah,  1  Chron.  iv.  12. 

Red  Sea,  originally  called  the  Sea  of  Edom,  which 
the  Romans  translated  into  Mare  Rubrum,  or 
Red  Sea :  it  is  divided  into  two  arms  ;  the  western 
is  called  in  the  Hebrew  "  the  Sea  of  Bulrushes ;" 
it  is  now  knoAvn  as  the  Gulf  of  Suez  ;  the  eastern 
is  called  the  Elanitic  Gulf,  or  the  Gidf  of  Akabah, 
Exod.  X.  19.     See  p.  22.     [II.,  III.] 

Re'hob,  a  Levitical  city  in  Asher,  Numb.  xiii.  21. 
[IV.,  v.] 

Reho'both  [roo7n),  a.  a  well  dug  by  Isaac,  Gen. 

xx-sd.  22.  [IV.,  VI.] 3.  Rehoboth  by  the  river, 

that  is,  the  Euphrates,  Gen.  xxxvi.  37. y.  Re- 

hobotli-Ir,  a  town  of  ancient  Assyria,  Gen.  x.  11. 
[IL] 

Re'kem,  a  toANTi  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  27. 

Re'meth,  a  Levitical  city  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix. 
21.     [IV.] 

Reph'aim  {giants),  a.  an  ancient  people  of  unusual 
stature,  beyond  the  Jordan,  Gen.  xiv.  5  ;  Deut. 

iii.  11,  ("giants,"  Auth.  Vers.) ;8.   a  valley 

adjacent  to   the  valley  of  Hinnom,    called  the 
"valley  of  giants,"  Josh.  xv.  8.     [III.] 

Reph'idim  [places  of  rest),  an  Israelitish  station, 
Exod.  xvii.  1,     [IIL] 

Re'sex,  an  Assyi-ian  city  between  Nineveh  and 
Calah,  Gen.  x.  12.     [IL] 

Reu'ben,  a  tribal  di^dsion  of  Canaan.     See  p.  32. 
Numb,  xxxii.  29—33.     [IV.] 

Re'zeph,  a  city  subdued  by  the  Assyrians,  2  Kings 
xix.  12.     [IL,  v.] 

Rhe'gium  (a  rent),  a  city  in  the  south-west  of  Italy, 
opposite  Messina  in  Sicily,  and  now  called  Reg- 
gio.  Acts  xxviii.  13.     [II. ,  VII.] 

Rhod'anim,  the  same  as  Dodanim. 

Rhodes,  an  island  near  the  coast  of  Asia  Minor, 
Acts  xxi.  1.     [IL,  Vn.] 

Rib'lah,  a  town  on  the  northern  border  of  Pales- 
tine, Numb,  xxxiv.  11.     [V.] 

Rim'mon,  o.  a  tOAATi  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  Josh. 
XV.  32.  [IV.,  v.] ;3.  a  town  on  a  high  coni- 
cal rock  north-east  of  Gibeah,  near  the  desert, 

Judg.  XX.  45,  47. y.  Rem'mon-Metho'ar,  a 

Le-\dtical  city  in  Zebulon,  Josh.  xix.  13. 5. 

Rim'mox-Pa'rez,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb. 
xxxiii.  19. 

Ri'phath,  a  northern  people,  descended  from 
Gomer,  Gen.  x.  3.     [I.] 

Ris'sAH,  an  Israelitish  station,  Nnmb.  xxxiii.  21. 

Rith'mah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb,  xxxiii.  18. 
[IIL] 

River  of  Egypt,  a  stream,  anciently  called  Rhi- 
nocura,  and  now  Wady-el-Arish  ;  it  formed  the 
south-western  boundary  of  Canaan.  The  stream 
is  now  dried  up.  Numb,  xxxiv.  5.  [IL,  III., 
IX.]  Stream  of  Egj-pt,  Isa.  xxvii.  12,  ("  The 
flood  of  Egj-pt,"  Amos  A-iii.  8,  means  the  Nile.) 
Ro'gel  or  En-ro'gel  [fuller  s  fountain),  a  fountaia 
in  Judah,  Josh,  xv  7. 


94 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


IIook'ltm,  a  place  in  Gilead,  2  Sam.  xvii.  27  ;  pro- 
bably the  same  spot  as  Rogel. 

Home,  a  celebrated  city  on  the  Tiber,  the  capital  of 
Italy,  Acts  ii.  10.     [II.,  VII.] 

Ru'mah,  a  town,  2  Kings  xxiii.  36  ;  perhaps  the 
same  as  Aruinah,  Judg.  ix.  41. 

Sabe'ans,  a  name  of  Arabians,  Job  i.  15. 
Sab'tau,  an  Arabian  tribe.  Gen.  x.  7. 
SAB'TECHAn,  an  ancient  district  in  Africa,  Gen.  x. 

7.     [I.,  II.] 
Sal'amis,  a  maritime  city  of  Cyprus,  on  the  south- 
east coast.  Acts  xiii.  5.     [II.,  VII.] 
Sal'chah,  or  Sal'cah,  a  city  of  Bashan,  Deut.  iii. 

10.     [V.] 
Sa'lem   (peace),  a.  an  ancient  name  for  Jerusalem, 

Gen.  xiv.  18.     [HI.] fi.  a  town  near  to  She- 

chem.     [IV.,  VI.] 
Salmo'xe,  a  promontory  on  the  eastern  extremity 

of  the  island  of  Crete,  Acts  xxvii.  7.     [II.,  VII.] 
Salt  Sea,  or  Dead  Sea,  called  also  "  the  Sea  of 

the  Plain,"  Deut.  iv.  49,  and  "  the  East  Sea," 

(Joel  ii.    20.)     See  p.  60.       [II.,   IV.,   V.,   VI., 

IX.] 
Salt,  City  of,  a  towm  in  the  desert  of  Judah,  near 

the  Dead  Sea,  Josh.  xv.  62. 
Salt,  Valley  of,  near  the  Dead  Sea,  2  Sam.  yiii. 

13.     [IV.] 
Sama'ria,  a  city  near  the  middle  of  Palestine,  built 

by  Omri,  king  of  Israel,  on  a  hill  called  by  the 

same   name,    from    its    former    owner    Shemer, 

which  was  also  applied  to  the  surrounding  dis- 
trict, 1  Kings  xiii.  32.     See  p.  38.     [VI.] 
Sa'mos  {full  of  sand),  an  island  in  the  iEgean  Sea, 

Acts  XX.  15.     [II.,  VII.] 
Samothra'cia,  an  island  in  the  north-east  part  of 

the  ^gean  Sea,  now  called  Samandi-achi,  Acts 

x^d.  11.     [II.,  VII.] 
Sansan'nah,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  31. 
Saph'ir,  a  to\vn  in  Judea,  Micahi.  11. 
Sar'dis,  the  capital  of  Lydia,  Rev.  i.  11.    See  p.  4". 

[II.,  VII.] 
Sarep'ta,   the  same  as  Zarephath,   a  Phoenician 

town  near  Tj-re,  Luke  iv.  26.     [VI.] 
Sa'rid,  a  to^^^^  in  Zebuluai,  Josh.  xix.  10. 
Se'ha,  an  Afiican  tribe.  Gen.  x.  7.     [I.,  II.] 
Sec'acah,  a  to'vvn  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  61. 
S'echu,  a  village  near  Ramah,  1  Sam.  xix.  22. 
Se'ir,  a.  the  mountainous  country  of  the  Edomites, 

reaching   from  the    Dead   Sea  to  the    Elanitic 

Gulf,   Gen.  xiv.  6.     [III.,  IX.] )3.  a  moun- 

taia  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  10. 
Se'irath,  a  place  in  Ephi-aim,  Judg.  iii.  26. 
Se'lah,  or  Se'la   ("  rock"),  the  same  as  Petra,  the 

capital  of  Ai-abia  Petrsea,  Judg.  i.  36.     [V.] 
Se'la-hammahlf/koth  {the  rock  of  divisions),  in  the 

wilderness,  west  of  the  Dead  Sea,  1  Sam.  xxiii. 

28, 
Seleu'cia,  a  city  of  Syria,  near  the  mouth  of  the 

Orontes,  Acts  xiii.  4.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 
Sen'aah,  to^vn  in  Judah,  Ezra  ii.  35. 
Se'neh,  a  sharp  rock  in  the  pass  Michmash,  1  Sam. 

xiv.  4. 
Se'nir,  or  She'xir  {coat  of  mail),  the  Amorite  name 

for  Mount  Hermon,  Deut.  iii.  9, 
Se'phar,  a  port  in  Arabia,  Gen.  x.  30.     [I.,  II.] 
Seph'arad,  a  place  in  Lvdia,  Asia  Minor,  Obad. 

20. 
Sepharva'im   [the  two  scribes),  a  town  subject  to 

the  Assyrians  ;  supposed  to  be  the  present  Sip- 

phara  on  the  Eupluates,  2  Kings  xA-ii.  24.     [II.] 


SnA.\L'BiM,  a  towai  of  the  Amoritcs,  in  tribe  of 
Dan,  Judg.  i.  35.     [IV.] 

Shaalab'bin,  the  same  as  Shaalbim,  a  to^\^l  in 
Dan,  Josh.  xix.  42. 

Shahaz'imah,  or  Shahaz'im,  a  tow^l  in  Issachar, 
Josh.  xix.  22. 

Sha'lim,  1  Sam.  ix.  4;  perhaps  the  same  as  the 
preceding. 

Shal'isha,  or  Salisa,  the  same  as  Baal-Shalisha, 
1  Sam.  ix.  4.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Sha'mir,  o.  a  town  in  Mount  Ephraim,  Judg.  x.  1. 
[IV.] /3.  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  48. 

Sha'pheii,  a  mountain  in  the  desert.  Numb,  xxxiii. 
23. 

Shar'aim,  Shaara'im,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv. 
36  ;   1  Sam.  xvii.  52. 

Sha'ron  (his  plain),  a  level  tract  between  Mount 
Carmel  and  Csesarea,  celebrated  for  its  rich  pas- 
tures Josh.  xii.  18,  (Lasharon)  ;  a  town  of  the 
same  name  was  on  its  eastern  border.  [IV.,  VT., 
IX.]  Acts  ix.  35,  (Saron). 

Sharu'hrex,  a  town  in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  6. 

Sha'veh  {the  king's  dale),  a  valley  on  the  north  of 
Jerusalem,  Gen.  xiv.  17. 

She'ba,  Sab;e'ans,  a.  the  descendants  of  Sheba,  son 

of  Joktan,    Gen.  x.    28.     [I.,  II.] ;8.  a  town 

in  Simeon,  Josh.  xix.  2. 

She'bam,  a  town  in  Reuben,  Numb,  xxxii.  3. 

She'chem,  or  vSi'cHEM,  called  also  Sy'char,  aLeviti- 
cal  city  of  refuge  in  Eplii'aim,  about  forty  miles 
fi-om  Jerusalem,  situate  in  a  narrow  plain  be- 
tween Mounts  Ebal  and  Gerizim ;  near  it  was 
Jacob's  well,  (John  iv.  6 ;  Gen.  xii.  6.)  [II.,  III., 
IV.,  v.,  VI.,  IX.] 

She'leph,  an  Arabian  tribe,  Gen.  x.  26. 

She'ma,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  26. 

Shen  (a  tooth),  a  rock,  1  Sam.  vii.  12. 

She'pham,  a  place  in  Judah,  Numb,  xxxiv.  10  ; 
perhaps  the  same  as  Siphmoth,  1  Sam.  xxx.  28. 

She'shach,  a  name  of  Babylon ;  its  origin  and 
signification  are  doubtful,  Jer.  xxv.  26. 

Shib'arim,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  vii.  5. 

Shib'mah,  a  tow^l  in  Reuben,  Numb,  xxxii.  38. 

Shi'crox,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  11. 

Shi'hor-lib'nath  {glass  river),  a  stream  on  the 
borders  of  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  26. 

Shi'loh  {rest),  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim, 
Josh,  xviii.  1.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Shil'him,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  32. 

Shim'rox,  Shtm'ron-Me'ron,  a  town  in  Zebulun, 
Josh.  xi.  1.     [IV.] 

Shi'nar,  an  ancient  name  of  Babylonia,  Gen.  x. 
10.     [III.] 

Shit'tim  {acacias),  a.  the  last  station  of  the  Israelites 
before  they  passed  the  Jordan,  Numb.  xxv.  1  ; 
xxxiii.    49    (  "  Abel  -  Shittim,  "      Auth.    Vers, 

"plains  of  Shittim,"      Marg.R.) /8.   a  valley 

west  of  the  Jordan,  and  probably  near  Jerusa- 
lem, Joel  iii.  18. 

Sho'phax,  a  to-wni  in  Gad,  Numb,  xxxii.  35. 

Shu'al,  a  district  in  Benjamin,  1  Sam.  xiii.  17. 

Shu'nem,  a  tovm.  in  Issachar,  Josh.  xix.  18.     [IV,] 

SiiUR  (a  well),  a.  a  city  on  the  borders  of  Egypt 
towards  Palestine,  supposed  to  have  been  in  the 

vicinity  of  the  modern  Suez,  Gen.  xA'i.  7. 0, 

a  desert  extending  from  the  city  to  the  borders 
of  Palestine,  Exod.  xv,  22  ;  called  in  Numb, 
xxxiii.  8,  "  the  wilderness  of  Etham." 

Suu'sHAN,  or  Su'sA  {the  lily),  a.  a  Persian  city,  Neh. 

i.  1. j8.  a  winter  palace  of  the  Persian  Idngs, 

on  the  river  Choaspes,  Dan-  viii,  2,     [I.,  II.] 


THE  SCRIPTURE  GAZETTEER. 


Sib'raim,  a  city  near  Damascus,  Ezek.  xlvii.  16. 

Sid'dim,  the  plain  of  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, which  at  their  destruction  became  the 
Dead  Sea  (or  a  portion  of  it),  Gen.  xiv.  3,  8,  10. 

Si'don.     i>ee  Zidon. 

Si'hor  (black),  a.  the  Hebrew  name  for  the  Nile, 

Isa.  xxiii.  3. -j3.  the  river  of  Egjrpt,  on  the 

Rhinocura,  Josh.  xiii.  3.     [IH.] 

Sil'la,  a  place  near  Jerusalem,  2  Kings  xii.  20. 

Silo'ah,  or  Sil'oam,  a  fountain  and  pool  at  the 
entrance  of  tlie  valley  of  Tyi'opseon,  near  Mount 
Zion,  Neh.  iii.  15.     [IX.] 

Sim'eon,  a  tribal  division  of  Canaan.  See  p.  34. 
Josh.  xix.  1 — 9. 

Sin  (slime),  a.  a  fortified  city,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
eastern  arm  of  the  Nile,  in  Eg)T)t,  generally  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Pelusium  of  the  Greeks,  Ezek. 
XXX.  15.  [III.] p.  the  desert  which  the  Is- 
raelites entered  on  leaving  the  Red  Sea,  Exod. 
xvi.  1.     [II.] 

Si'nai,  a  mountainous  district  in  Arabia  Petrsea, 
and  in  a  stricter  sense,  a  ridge  three  miles  in 
length,  the  northern  end  of  which  is  termed 
Horeb,  and  the  southern,  Sinai,  now  known  as 
Jebel  Musa,  or  Moses'  Mount,  Exod.  xvi.  1.  [II., 
III.,  IX.] 

Si'nim,  probably  China,  though  some  suppose 
Persia  is  meant,  Isa.  xlix.  12.     [I.] 

Sin'ites,  anortliern  Canaanitish  people,  Gen.  x.  17. 

Si'oN,  a  name  for  Mount  Hermon,  Deut.  iv.  48. 

Siph'moth,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xxx.  28. 

Sir'ion,  the  Sidonian  name  for  JSIoTint  Hermon, 
Deut.  iii.  9. 

Sit'nah  (hatred),  one  of  Isaac's  wells, Gen.  xxvi.  21. 

Smyb'na,  a  celebrated  commercial  city  of  Ionia, 
and  still  flourishing  ;  the  Tm'ks  call  it  Izmii", 
Rev.  i.  11.     See  p.  47.     [II.,  VII.] 

So'coH,  Sho'choh,  or  So'cho,  o.  a  town  in  Judah, 

in  the  vale  of  Elah,  Josh.  xv.  35. )3.  a  town 

near  the  mountains  of  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  48  ; 
now  called  Shuweikeh.     [IV.,  V.] 

Sod'om,  one  of  the  cities  in  the  vale  of  Siddim, 
having  its  own  chief  or  king.  Gen.  x.  19. 

So'rek  (a  vine),  a  vallev  so  called,  near  to  Gath, 
Judg.  xvi.  4.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Spain,  a  Roman  province,  formerly  including  both 
Spain  and  Portugal,  Rom.  xv.  24. 

Suc'coTH  (booths),  a.  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  between 
that  river  and  the  brook  Jabbok,  about  forty 
miles  from  Jerusalem,  Gen.   xxxiii.  17.     [IV., 

VI.] p.  the  tii-st  station  of  the  Israelites  after 

Rameses,  Exod.  xii.  37. 

Suk'kiims  (dwellers  in  tents),  an  African  nation, 
2  Chi-on.  xii.  3. 

Sy'char.     See  Shechem.     John  iv.  5. 

Sye'ne  (keT/  or  border  fortress),  a  city  of  Egypt,  in 
the  Thebais,  or  southern  extremity  of  the  coim- 
try,  towai-ds  Ethiopia,  Ezek.  xxix.  10.     [I.,  II.] 

Syr'acuse,  a  city  of  antiquity,  on  the  south-east 
coast  of  Sicily,  Acts  xxviii.  12.     [II.,  IX.] 

Syb'ia  (sublime),  the  region  from  west  to  east,  be- 
tween the  MediteiTanean  and  the  Euphrates, 
and  from  north  to  south,  between  the  Lebanon 
and  the  borders  of  the  desert.  See  p.  14.  Gen. 
xxviii.  5.     [II.,  VI.,  IX.] 

Ta'anach,  or  Ta'nach,  a  Levitical  city  ii'.  Manas- 

seh,  Josh.  xvii.  11.     [IV.] 
Ta'anath-shi'loh,  a  town  on  the  border  of  the 

tribe  of  Ephraim,  Josh.  xvi.  6. 
Tab'kath,  a  town  in  Issachar,  Judg.  vii.  22. 


Tab'erah  (a  burning),  an  Israelitish  station  m  tl;e 
wilderness,  Nvmib.  xi.  3.     [HI.] 

Ta'bor,  a.  a  mountain  on  the  confines  of  Zebidun 
and  Naphtali,  Josh.   xix.   22.     [III.,  IV.',  VI., 

IX.] )3.  an  oak-grove,  ("plain,"  Auth.  Vers.) 

in  the  vicinity  of  Benjamin,  1  Sam.  x.  3. y. 

a  Levitical  city,  situated  on  Mount  Tabor, 
1  Cliron.  vi.  77. 

Tad'mor,  or  Ta'mar  (palm-tree),  a  city  built  by 
king  Solomon,  the  Palmyra  of  heathen  writers, 
situated  between  the  Euphrates  and  Hamath,  in 
a  fertile  tract  of  the  desert,  1  Kings  ix.  18.  [II., 
v.,  VII.] 

Tahap'anes,  Tahpan'hes,  or  Tehaph'nehes  (</ie 
cape  oftheland),or  abbrcAdated,  Ha'nes,  Isa.  xxx. 
4,  the  same  as  Daphne,  a  fortified  city  on  the 
Nile,  near  Pelusium  in  Egj^pt,  Jer.  ii.  16.     [III.] 

Ta'hath,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb,  xxxiii.  26. 

Tau'tim-uod'shi,  a  district,  luicertam  in  what 
place,  2  Sam.  xxiv.  6. 

Ta'jiar  (palm-tree),  a  town  on  the  south  border  of 
Palestine,  Ezek.  xlvii.  19.    See  Tadmor.   [IV.,  V.] 

Tap'puah,    a.   a  town  in  Epliraim   or    Manasseh, 

Josh.  xvi.  8.' j3.  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xii. 

17.     [IV.] 

Ta'rah,  an  Israelitish  station.  Numb,  xxxiii.  27. 

Tar'alah,  a  toAvn  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  27. 

Tar'pelites,  a  people  of  Assyria,  sent  by  the  Per- 
sians to  colonize  Samaria,  Ezra  iv.  9. 

Tar'shish,  a  large  town  and  seat  of  learning,  pro- 
bably Tarsus  in  Cilicia,  but  some  think,  Tar- 
tessus  in  Spain,  Gen.  x.  4.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 

Tak'sus,  the  metropolis  of  Cilicia,  now  a  poor 
decayed  town.  Acts  ix.  11.     [I.,  II.,  VII.] 

Teko'ah  (a  trumpet),  a  city  six  miles  south  of  Beth- 
lehem, in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  2  Sam.  xiv.  2.  It 
gave  its  name  to  an  adjacent  desert,  2  Chron. 
XX.  20.     [IV.,  v.,  VI.] 

Tel-a'bib  (heap  of  corn) ,  a  towii,  or  plain,  in  Meso- 
potamia, Ezek.  iii.  15. 

Tela'im,  a  town  in  Judah,  1  Sam.  xv.  4. 

Telas'ar,  or  Thelas'ar,  the  site  is  unknown,  but 
is  perhaps  the  same  as  Ellasar,  or,  according 
to  Dr.  Layard,  Tel-afer  in  Assyria,  2  Kings 
xix.  12. 

Te'lem,  or  Tel'aim,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  24. 

Tel-har'sa,  or  Tel-hare'sha  (a,  heap  of  the  plough), 
in  Babylonia,  a  place  to  which  the  captive 
Israelites  were  carried,  Ezra  ii.  59. 

Tel-me'lah  ijieap  of  salt),  in  Babylonia,  a  place 
to  which  the  Israelites  were  carried,  Ezra  ii.  59. 

Te'ma,  an  Ai-abian  tribe.  Gen.  xxv.  15. 

Te'man  (the  south),  a  city,  region,  and  people  in 
the  south  of  Arabia  Petrsea,  so  named  from  a 
grandson  of  Esau,  Gen.  xxxvi.  11. 

The'bez,    a  town   near   Bethshan,    Judg.    ix.   50. 

[IV.,  v.] 
Thessaloni'ca,  a  town  of  Macedonia,  now  called 

Salonichi,  Acts  xvii.  1.     [II.,  VII.] 
Three  Taverns,  or  Tres  Taber'n^e,  a  place  thirty 

miles  from  Rome,  containing  a  celebrated  inn 

frequented  by  the  higher   classes   of  Romans, 

Acts  xxviii.  15. 
Thyati'ra,  a  city  on  the  northern  border  of  Lj-dia, 

Acts  xvi.  14.     [II.,  VII.) 
Tibe'rias,  a  populous  city  belongmg  to  Naphtali, 

on  the  western  side  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  now 

called  Tabai-iyeh,    John  vi.   1,   23.     [VI.,  VII., 

IX.] 
Tibe'rias,  Sea  of.     See  p.  58.     [IX.] 
Tib'hath,  a  tOAAai  in  Svna,  1  Chi-on.  xviii.  8. 


96 


THE  SCRIPTUEE  GAZETTEER. 


Tim'nah,    an  Edoinitisli   tribe,    Gen.    xxxvi.    40. 

[II.,  VII.] 
Tim'nath,  town  in  Judah,  Gen.  xxxviii.  12  ;  (Josh. 

xix.  43.  Tliimnathah).     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 
Tim'natu-he'kes,  also   called  Tim'nath-se'rah,  a 

town  assigned  to  Joshua,  near  tlie  mountains  of 

Ephraim,  Josh.  xix.  60.     [V.] 
Tiph'sah  (a  passage,  or  ford),  now  called  ed-Deir 

(the   convent),    a  large   city   on   the   Euphrates, 

1  Kings  iv.  24.    [II.,  V.] 
Tir'as,  a  people  descended  Ixom  Japheth,  Gen.  x.  2. 
Tie'zah,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  and  the  royal  residence 

of  some  of  the  kings   of  Israel,   Josh.   xii.   24. 

[IV.,  v.,  VI.] 
Tish'bi,  a  town  in  Naphtali,  (1  Kings  xvii.  1,  Tish- 

bite.) 
ToB,  a  district  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  Judg. 

xi.  3. 
To'cHEN,  a  town  in  Simeon,  1  Chi-on.  iv.  32. 
Togar'mah,  or  Togar'muth,  the  Hebrew  name  for 

Armenia,  Gen.  x.  3.     [I.] 
To'lad,  a  town  in  Simeon,  1  Chron.  iv.  29. 
To'pHEL,  a  town  in  Palestine,  situation  unknown, 

Deut.  i.  1. 
To'pHETH  (a  drum),   a  place  on  the  south-east  of 

Jerusalem,   in  the   valley  of  Ilinnom,  2  Kings 

xxiii.  10.     [VIII.] 
Trachoni'tis,  the  district  between  Anti-Libanus 

and  the  Arabian  moiuitains,  south  of  Damascus, 

and  west  of  Auranitis,  Luke  iii.  1.      [VI.] 
Tro'as,  a  city  of  northern  or  lesser  Mysia,  in  Asia 

Minor,  Acts  xvi.  8.     [II.,  VII.] 
Trogyl'lium,    a   town   and  promontory  in   Asia 

Minor,  opposite  Samos,  Actsxx.  15.     [II.,  VII.] 
Tu'bal,  a  people  named  after  their  progenitor,  a  son 

of  Japheth,  and  supposed  to  have  been  settled 

in   Asia   Minor,    near    the    Euxine,  Isa.    Ixvi. 

19.     [I.] 
Tyre,  a  city  famed  for  its  antiqiuty,   commerce, 

and  colonies,  situated  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the 

Mediterranean,  2  Sam.  v.  11.    [II.,  IV.,  V.,  VI., 

VII.,  IX.] 

U'lai,  a  river  which  flowed  into  the  united  stream 

of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.     Dan.  viii.  2. 
Um'mah,  a  town  in  Asher,  Josh.  xix.  30. 
U'PHAZ,  the  name  of  a  gold  country  ;  perhaps  a 

corruption  of  Ophir,  Jer.  x.  9. 
Ur  (light),  a  city  near  the  Euphrates,  now  called 

Orfah,  or  Urfah.     Gen.  xi.  28.     [I.] 
Uz,  a  region  supposed  to  be  situated  in  the  north 

of  Arabia  Deserta,  between  Idumea,  Palestine, 

and  the  Euplirates,  Job  i.  1. 
U'zAL,  a  district  in  Arabia,  Gen.  x.  27.     [I.] 
Uz'zen-she'rah,  1  Chron.  vii.  24. 

Za'anan  (place  of  flocks),  a  to'WTi  in  Judah,  perhaps 

the  same  as  Zenan,  Micah  i.  1 1 . 
Zaanax'nim,  or  Zaana'im,  a  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh. 

xix.  33. 
Za'ir,  a  place  near  Edom,  2  Kings  -viii.  21. 
Zal'mon,   a  mountain  in    Samaria,  Judg.    ix.  48. 

("Salmon,"  Auth.  Vers.,  Psa.  lx\iii.  14,  but  the 

same  in  the  Hebrew  as  Zalmon,  or  rather  Tsal- 

mon). 
Zaxmo'nah,  an  Israelitish  station,  Numb,  xxxiii. 

41.     nil.] 
Zamzummims,  an  ancient  race  of  giants,   in   the 

country  afterwards  possessed  by  the  Ammonites, 

Deut.  ii.  20.     [III.] 


Zano'ah,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh,  xv,  34, 

Za'phon,  a  town  in  Gad,  Josh.  xiii.  27. 

Za'red,  a  mountain  torrent  or  watercourse,  rising 
in  the  mountains  of  Moab,  Numb.  xxi.  12. 

Zau'epiiatu  (the  Sarepta  of  the  New  Testament), 
1  Kings  xvii.  9.     [IV.,  V.] 

Zar'etan,  a  town  in  Manasseh,  Josh.  iii.  f^  ^. 

vii.  22,  Zererath,)  (1  Kings  iv.  12,Zfirtanah;)  (vii. 
46,  Zarthan) ;  (xi.  2G,  Zereda) ;  (2  Cln-on.  iv.  17, 
Zeredathah.)     [IV.] 

Za'reth-sha'har  (the  splendour  of  the  dawn),  a 
village  in  Reuben,  Josh.  xiii.  19. 

Zebo'im,  a.  one  of  the  cities  in  the  vale  of  Siddim, 

Gen.  X.  19. )8.  a  valley  and  town  in  the  tribe 

of  Benjamin,  1  Sam.  xui.  18. 

Zeh'ulon  (dwelling),  a.  a  tribal  division  of  Canaan, 
Josh.  xix.  10 — IG.  [IV.] — — )3.  a  border  city  be- 
longing to  Asher  and  Zebulun.     See  p.  34    [IV.] 

Ze'dau,  a  place  on  the  northern  limit  of  Canaan, 
in  Aram,  Numb,  xxxiv.  8.     [V.] 

Ze'lah,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  28. 

Zel'zah,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  1  Sam.  x.  2. 

Zemara'im,  a  town  in  Benjamin,  Josh,  xviii.  22. 

Zem'arite,  a  Canaanitish  people.  Gen.  x.  18. 

Ze'nan,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  37. 

Ze'phath,  a  city  in  southern  Palestine,  Judg.  i.  17. 

Zeph'athah,  a  valley,  probably  near  the  last  men- 
tioned place,  2  Chi'on.  xiv.  10. 

Zer,  a  town  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  35. 

Zid'dim,  a  tovni  in  Naphtali,  Josh.  xix.  35. 

Zi'dox,  or  SiDON  (fishing),  (Heb.  Tzidon),  one  of 
the  most  ancient  cities  and  districts  of  Phoenicia, 
situated  in  the  allotment  of  the  tribe  of  Asher 
but  never  conquered  bv  it.  Gen.  x.  15,  19.  [I., 
II.,  III.,  IV.,  v.,  VI.,  VIII.,  IX.] 

Zik'lag,  a  city  situated  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  but 
at  times  subject  to  the  Philistines,  whose  king, 
Achish,  bestowed  it  on  David,  after  which  it 
pertained  to  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  31.     [IV.] 

Zim'ran,  Zim'ri,  an  Arabian  tribe,  named  after 
Keturah's  first-born.  Gen.  xxv.  2. 

ZiN,  a  wilderness  near  Kadesh-Barnea,  Numb, 
xiii.  22  ;  Josh.  xv.  1,  3. 

Zi'oN,  the  higher  and  southern  hill  on  which  the 
more  ancient  part  of  the  city  of  Jerusalem  was 
built;  also  called  "the  city  of  David,"  who 
fixed  his  residence  there,  2  Sam.  v.  7.     [VIII.] 

Zi'oR,  a  town  in  the  hilly  country  of  Judah,  Josh. 
XV.  54. 

ZiPH,   a.  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv.  24. &.  a 

wilderness  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  town, 
1  Sam.  xxiii.  14.     [IV.,  V.,  VI.] 

Zi'PHRON,  Numb,  xxxiv.  9. 

Ziz,  a  mountain  pass,  2  Chron.  xx.  16. 

Zo'an,  one  of  tlie  oldest  cities  in  Lower  Egypt. 
Numb.  xiii.  22.     [II.,  HI.] 

Zo'ar  (little),  a  town  in  ^he  vale  of  Siddim,  Gen. 
xiii.  10.     [IV.,  VI.] 

Zo'bah,  or  A'ram-zo'bah,  a  Syrian  kingdom, 
extending  from  the  Euplirates  westward, 
perhaps  as  far  north  as  Aleppo,  1  Sam.  xiv.  47. 
[II.,  v.] 

Zo'heleth,  a  stone  near  Jerusalem,  1  Kings  i.  9. 

Zo'pHiM,  a  plain  on  Mount  Pisgah,  Numb,  xxiii.  14. 

Zo'rah,  or  Zore'ah,  a  town  in  Judah,  Josh.  xv. 
33.     [V.] 

ZuPH,  a  district  near  to  the  land  of  the  Benjamite, 
1  Sam.  ix.  5. 

Zu'ziMS,  Gen.  xiv.  5  ;  by  some  conjectured  to  be 
the  same  as  the  Zamzimimims. 


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